Coded acoustic signal communication with separate code-associated data communication

ABSTRACT

A composite signal having frequencies within a sonic first frequency bandwidth may be received from a communication media on a receiver. The composite signal may include an audio base signal and at least one code signal. The code signal may be encoded with a code. The composite signal may be output on a speaker, the speaker converting the composite signal into sound. While outputting the composite signal, a signal processing device may detect the output sound corresponding to the code signal. The code may be determined from the detected output sound corresponding to the code signal. Data associated with the code may be retrieved from a data storage device that is internal to or remote from the signal processing device. The retrieved data, when displayed on a display device, may be selected by a user. The signal processing device may automatically send signal-processing-device-specific data to a remote server when the code is determined or when the user inputs an input using the displayed code-associated data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/821,681, filed Nov. 22, 2017 and titled “Interactive DataCommunication with Acoustic Signal Communication”, issuing as U.S. Pat.No. 10,043,524 on Aug. 7, 2018, which application is a continuation inpart of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/977,502, filed Dec. 21, 2015and titled “Data Communication with Acoustic Signal Communication”,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/094,762,filed Dec. 19, 2014 and titled “Tone Command”, which application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to data communication associated with adistributed audio signal, and in particular data communication between aprovider of a code signal and a device receiving the audio signal.

BACKGROUND

Audio and video communications communicate information ephemerally. Suchmedia content, such as a phone number, web site, or address, may not beremembered by a listener or viewer. Spontaneously recording suchinformation may not be possible or may be impractical depending on theconcurrent activities of the recipient of the information.

Additionally, producers of media content, such as news, weather,traffic, sports, advertisers, music and video, do not have a way toeasily provide listeners or viewers with links to additional content.They also are unable to easily determine how many people are listeningand more importantly, how many are responding to a particular mediaproduction, at least contemporaneously with the distribution of themedia content.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a system and method that may provide auser with data associated with media content received on a user deviceand can include providing feedback to a producer of the audible signalwith information about recipients of the media content. In someembodiments, a method may include receiving on a signal processingdevice a code and code-associated data associated with the code from adata-base server that is remote from the signal processing device, andstoring on an internal data storage device of the signal processingdevice the received code and the code-associated data. After storing onthe internal data storage device the received code and code-associateddata, the method may further include receiving from a communicationmedia on a signal receiver a composite signal having frequencies withina sonic first frequency bandwidth, the composite signal including anaudio base signal and at least one code signal, the code signal beingencoded with the code, having a duration shorter than a duration of thebase signal, and having a second frequency bandwidth within the firstfrequency bandwidth. The composite signal can be output on a speaker,the speaker converting the composite signal into sound. While thecomposite signal is being output, the signal processing device detectsthe output sound corresponding to the code signal, and determines thecode from the detected output sound corresponding to the code signal.The signal processing device then automatically in response todetermining the code and prior to displaying information in response todetermining the code, determines whether code-associated data associatedwith the code is stored on the internal data storage device of thesignal processing device. If it is determined that the code-associateddata is stored on the internal data storage device, the code-associateddata is retrieved from the internal data storage device; and theretrieved code-associated data is displayed on a display device of thesignal processing device.

In some embodiments, a receiver assembly may include a signal receiver,a speaker, and a signal processing device. The signal receiver can beconfigured for receiving from a communication media a composite signalhaving frequencies within a sonic first frequency bandwidth, thecomposite signal including an audio base signal and a code signal, thecode signal being encoded with a code, having a duration shorter than aduration of the base signal, and having a second frequency bandwidthwithin the first frequency bandwidth. The speaker can be operativelycoupled to the signal receiver for outputting the composite signal,including the audio base signal and the code signal, as sound. Thesignal processing device can be configured to receive a code andcode-associated data associated with the code from a data-base serverthat is remote from the signal processing device; and store on aninternal data storage device of the signal processing device thereceived code and the code-associated data. The signal processing devicecan further detect the output sound corresponding to the code signal,and determine the code from the detected output sound corresponding tothe code signal. Automatically in response to determining the code andprior to displaying information in response to determining the code, thesignal processing device can determine whether code-associated dataassociated with the code is stored on the internal data storage deviceof the signal processing device. If it is determined that thecode-associated data is stored on the internal data storage device, thecode-associated data is retrieved from the internal data storage deviceand displayed.

In some embodiments, a computer program product includes at least onecomputer readable storage medium having computer readable programinstructions embodied therewith. The computer readable programinstructions, when executed by a processor, configure the processor toreceive a code and code-associated data associated with the code from adata-base server that is remote from the signal processing device; andstore on an internal data storage device of the signal processing devicethe received code and the code-associated data. The computer readableprogram instructions may further configure the processor to receivesound from a speaker outputting a composite signal including an audiobase signal and a code signal, as sound, the composite signal havingfrequencies within a sonic first frequency bandwidth, and the codesignal being encoded with a code, having a duration shorter than aduration of the base signal, and having a second frequency bandwidthwithin the first frequency bandwidth.

The computer readable program instructions may further configure theprocessor to detect the output sound corresponding to the code signal;and determine the code from the detected output sound corresponding tothe code signal. Such computer readable program instructions may furtherconfigure the processor to automatically in response to determining thecode and prior to displaying information in response to determining thecode, determine whether code-associated data associated with the code isstored on an internal data storage device of the signal processingdevice. If it is determined that the code-associated data is stored onthe internal data storage device, the computer readable programinstructions may further configure the processor to retrieve from theinternal data storage device, the code-associated data, and display theretrieved code-associated data.

Features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently invarious embodiments, or may be combined in yet other embodiments,further details of which can be seen with reference to the followingdescription and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication systemillustrating multiple occurrences of encoded audio code being decoded bya device and displaying related information.

FIG. 2 shows a list of exemplary commands that may be produced.

FIG. 3 shows an overview block diagram illustrating examples of commandproduction, storage, broadcasting, retrieving, display and associatedactions.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating examples of encoding of textto audio and decoding of audio to text.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a first mobiledevice encoding text to audio and an example of a second mobile devicedecoding audio to text.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to senda link to a digital item to one or more audio signal processing devices.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to usea public address system to process tone tips.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to usea broadcast radio and TV systems to process tone tips.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method toprocess and display historical tone tip information.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method toprocess and display music related information.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to useInternet systems to process tone tips.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to usestandalone file storage systems to process tone tips.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a method to useBluetooth communication to process tone tips.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram illustrating exemplary details associatedwith a use of Bluetooth communication to process tone tips.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a method to display command actions.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a method to produce a list of commandactions.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a frequency spectrum of a composite signalhaving a single tone tip signal.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a frequency spectrum of a composite signalhaving a plurality of tone tip signals.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an example of a computer system or smartdevice that may be used in the examples illustrated in the precedingfigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Various embodiments of a communication system providing data to a signalprocessing device are described below and are illustrated in theassociated drawings. Unless otherwise specified, a communication systemand/or its various components may, but are not required to, contain atleast one of the structure, components, functionality, and/or variationsdescribed, illustrated, and/or incorporated herein. Furthermore, thestructures, components, functionalities, and/or variations described,illustrated, and/or incorporated herein in connection with the presentteachings may, but are not required to, be included in othercommunication systems or components. The following description ofvarious embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses.Additionally, the advantages provided by the embodiments, as describedbelow, are illustrative in nature and not all embodiments provide thesame advantages or the same degree of advantages.

Aspects of a communication system may be embodied as a computer method,computer system, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects ofthe communication system may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, and the like), or an embodiment combiningsoftware and hardware aspects, all of which may generally be referred toherein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe communication system may take the form of a computer program productembodied in a computer-readable medium (or media) havingcomputer-readable program code/instructions embodied thereon.

Any combination of computer-readable media may be utilized.Computer-readable media can be a computer-readable signal medium and/ora computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage mediummay include an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared,and/or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitablecombination of these. More specific examples of a computer-readablestorage medium may include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, and/or any suitable combination ofthese and/or the like. In the context of this disclosure, acomputer-readable storage medium may include any suitable tangiblemedium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connectionwith an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, and/or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer-readable signal medium may include any computer-readable mediumthat is not a computer-readable storage medium and that is capable ofcommunicating, propagating, or transporting a program for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, and/or the like, and/or any suitablecombination of these.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thecommunication system may be written in one or any combination ofprogramming languages, including an object-oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and/or the like, and conventionalprocedural programming languages, such as the C programming language.The program code may execute entirely on a user's computer, partly onthe user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on theuser's computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on theremote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computermay be connected to the user's computer through any type of network,including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN),and/or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example,through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of a communication system are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses,systems, and/or computer program products. Each block and/or combinationof blocks in a flowchart and/or block diagram may be implemented bycomputer program instructions. The computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions can also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmabledata processing apparatus, and/or other device to function in aparticular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other device tocause a series of operational steps to be performed on the device toproduce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions whichexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provideprocesses for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

Any flowchart and/or block diagram in the drawings is intended toillustrate the architecture, functionality, and/or operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods, and computer program productsaccording to aspects of a communication system. In this regard, eachblock may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). In some implementations, the functionsnoted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the drawings. Forexample, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executedsubstantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed inthe reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Each blockand/or combination of blocks may be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems (or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions) that perform the specified functions or acts.

FIG. 1 shows a simple block diagram of one example of a communicationsystem illustrating multiple occurrences of encoded audio code beingdecoded by an audio signal processing device and displaying relatedinformation. The communication system may include the following process.

At step 100, a media producer may generate a list of commands or otheruser-device related items, all referred to generally as code-associateddata. A command list may contain one or more commands.

At step 102, there may be several types of commands that a mobile devicecan process. Those include making a phone call, accessing a web site,providing a map, sending a text message, and displaying an image. Themedia producer may associate a value with each command line withoptional attributes such as position, image map, color, text size, andbackground color. The list of commands and attributes may be stored as adatabase record for future retrieval. The list of commands andattributes may be transmitted and stored locally on an internal datastorage device of the audio signal processing device as a local databaserecord. Storing records locally on the audio signal processing deviceassociate a list of commands or other information with a Unique ActionReference Code (UARC) (discussed further below). This local storage ofthe code and code-associated data allows the list of commands to beretrieved or acted upon.

At step 108, a Unique Action Reference Code (UARC) may be generated as aunique action code or a unique reference code to reference a databaserecord. The unique reference code may be modified to accommodate variousencoding methods.

At step 110, the unique reference code may be encoded into one or moreunique audio files. The encoded audio files may be called tone tips orcode signals. Each tone tip generated may be optimized for the mediadelivery. As an example, AM, FM, TV, and Internet radio have differentwaveform characteristics. One tone tip may be generated for radio 112,another for TV 114, and a third for Internet 116. Each tone tipgenerated may be optimized for the specific delivery media delivery

At step 120, the tone tips may be merged with previously generated audio(an audio base signal) to form a composite signal, or used asindependent audio files. Audio (1) 120, Audio (2) 121, and Audio (x) 122may be numerous audio media delivery methods, such as radio, TV,internet, or public address system.

At step 130, the audio file or composite signal containing the tone tipmay be played by a broadcaster such as radio, TV, internet, or publicaddress system.

At step 140, an audio signal processing device may receive one or moretone tip. The audio signal processing device may decode the tone tip andextract the unique reference code. The audio signal processing devicemay use more than one decoding method at a time.

At step 150, the unique reference code may be used to process an actionor retrieve commands from the database. The database may locatedexternally on a remote data storage device or locally on an internaldata storage device of the audio signal processing device.

At step 160, the list of commands and associated actions associated withthe code may be retrieved and displayed on a display of the audio signalprocessing device 140.

Tone Commands

Tone Commands 200 may be a set of preselected commands, organized into alist 202, 1610 by a media producer. The commands may display on a smartphone, mobile device, computer, or other Audio signal Processing Device(APD) 1500, 1650. The commands may be actions such as call a phonenumber, display an address, go to a web site, send a text message,download an application, run a computer program, or other commandavailable to the audio signal processing device as shown at 220.Commands may include routines, processes and actions available to anaudio signal processing device. Commands typically include the specificcommand, a value 204, photo, and options as shown as an example in thetable in FIG. 2. A Unique Action Reference Code (UARC) is assigned toand associated with each Tone Command List (TCL) 208. The tone commandlist is correspondingly code-associated data. The unique reference codemay be numbers, characters, or any machine recognizable code. Examplesinclude commands related to a storm report 210, news 212,advertisements, or any information that a producer wants to convey to alistener for display on an audio signal processing device.

The producer may select commands, values, and options (FIG. 2). Thosecommands may be organized into a list of one or more commands 210. Itthis example, the list of commands is called a Tone Command List (TCL).A unique code may be assigned to the tone command list by the ToneCommand Center (TCC) database. The tone command data base may also bereferred to as a remote data storage device or remote server. The uniquecode may be called a Unique Action Reference Code (UARC). The uniquereference code may act as a reference link to the tone command list.Besides a reference link to addition information, the unique referencecode in and of itself may contain action information to command themobile device to process unique reference code information using adifferent method, such as sending a pilot code to switch decodingalgorithms, or immediately process an action such as changing the screento display a video, image, or a solid color.

As shown in the example in FIG. 3 at 300, a media producer interface 310may communicate at 315 with the tone command database 370 and generate atone command list 375 that is stored in the tone command database 370.The tone command database is used throughout this document to refer tothe associated tone command database server and associated data storagedevice on which the tone command database is stored. References to tonecommand database and tone command database server may be usedinterchangeably. The tone command database may encode the uniquereference code from into one or more short audio files called tone tips.The tone command database may generate more than one tone tip file foreach unique reference code. Tone tip audio files may be optimized forthe media that will contain the tone tip.

The tone command database may send the tone tip files to the producer.The tone command database may also send code-associated data, such as atone command list associated with the tone tip files to audio signalprocessing device 360 to be stored as a local database record on aninternal data base device. The producer may send the audio Tone TipProduction (TTP) to one or more broadcasters 320. The broadcaster 330 inturn may transmit the tone tip link to one or more audio signalprocessing device 340. The broadcaster may send to the broadcaster datato the tone command database 335 for each tone tip media production filethat was broadcast to the audio signal processing device.

The audio signal processing device 350 may receive and decode the tonetip back into a unique reference code, retrieve the code-associated tonecommand list 360 from the remote tone command database or from the localdatabase on the internal data storage device of the audio signalprocessing device 350, and process any requested commands. The audiosignal processing device may send acknowledgement 360 metadata to thetone command database 370 when a tone tip was received by the audiosignal processing device. The metadata, also referred to assignal-processing-device-specific data is data that is specific to thesignal processing device, such as data representative of a device uniqueidentification number, device location, device maker, device model, ordevice operating system.

The audio signal processing device may send acknowledgement metadata tothe tone command database when a user responds to actions presented onthe tone command list. This acknowledgement metadata orsignal-processing-device-specific data may further include datarepresentative of a specific user action taken. A user (media listeneror viewer) may then take action by using the audio signal processingdevice to respond to the tone command list. The media producer mayreceive a response from the audio signal processing device 380. Tonetips may be sent or stored using media such as radio, television,Internet, public address systems, media files, and sound reinforcementsystems (public address systems).

Tone tips may be short unique encoded audio files that are embedded intoaudio, video and other media files. Tone tip audio files are typicallyless than ten seconds long. A tone tip of greater than ten seconds maybe produced to send a file that contains more than eight characters ofdata. Tone tips may be linked to a menu of producer determined content.Tone tips may be broadcast to large audiences, or may be receivedindividually. Tone tips may be decoded by a smart phone, tabletcomputer, or other audio signal processing device and then may bedisplayed as a menu of commands for the listener to take immediateaction, record, bookmark for later use, or ignore.

Producer

Tone command production may start with the media producer interface1610. A media producer may be responsible for production of audio andvideo media content. The media producer may be responsible for contentdelivery on several different media such as radio, TV, and Internetmedia. Media content may be a news story, traffic report, advertisement,documentary, training video, power point presentation, or any audio orvideo production. The producer content may contain references toinformation such as web sites, telephone numbers, addresses and otherinformation. The producer may have a call to action such as askinglisteners to vote on a topic, rank a subject, or post a comment.

Using the media producer interface 1610, the producer may selectcommands, values, and options to be processed and displayed by the audiosignal processing device 1630, 1650. The commands may be arranged into alist called a Tone Command List (TCL). As an option, the tone commandlist may also contain headers, footers, images, image maps, videos,voice commands, and other display and control items. The commands mayalso be instant action commands such as display emergency information,display text data, or start a computer program. The producer may alsoselects the broadcast method, such as radio, TV, public address system,Internet, or any other method used to delivery audio information. Theproducer may select the broadcast type and may change the encoding anddecoding schemes to best suit the broadcast method. The audio signalprocessing device may automatically select the best decoding algorithmto match the broadcast method. The producer or broadcaster may alsoinclude a pilot signal unique reference code to command the audio signalprocessing device to use the best decoding algorithm to match thebroadcast method.

After the producer develops the tone command list, the list may be sentto the tone command database. The tone command database may assign aUnique Action Reference Code (UARC) to the tone command list. Theproducer may add metadata to the tone command list. The unique referencecode may be encoded into one or more audio sequences for broadcast as acode signal. The audio encoded unique reference code may be referred toas a tone tip. The producer may insert the tone tip into one or moretime locations within an audio base signal to produce an audioproduction or composite signal.

The producer may decide to insert only one tone tip into a shortproduction such as a 10 second commercial, or may insert a plurality oftone tips into multiple locations within a long media production orpresentation. The tone tip, when inserted into a production, may becalled a Tone Tip Production (TTP). Tone command list metadata may beadded to the tone tip media production file. The tone tip mediaproduction file may be the complete audio or video production includinginserted tone tips. Several tone tips may be inserted into a tone tipmedia production file with the same unique reference code, but usingdifferent encoding techniques. Different encoding techniques may be usedto deliver the same tone tip media production file to multiplebroadcasters, such as Radio, TV, and streaming Internet such as NetFlix,Vimeo, and YouTube. The tone command database may produce one or moretone tip, each optimized for the media being used to deliver the audioor video production.

The producer may send the tone tip media production file to one or morebroadcasters. The tone tip media production file may be broadcast to oneor more audio signal processing devices via radio, television, Internet,gaming, public address systems, or other audio transmitting system. Thetone tip media production file may also be sent to one or more audiosignal processing device using computerized file storage anddistribution systems including the Internet and computer storagesystems. The audio signal processing device may receive and process thetone tip. The tone tip may be decoded back into a unique reference code.The unique reference code may be sent to the tone command database andused to recall the tone command list from the tone command database. Thetone command list may be displayed on the audio signal processingdevice. The listener may then take action by selecting any of thecommands displayed on the audio signal processing device. If thelistener responds by taking action on the audio signal processingdevice, the response action may be sent back the tone command databasealong with audio signal processing device metadata. Consolidatedlistener responses may be sent to the producer and broadcaster. Instantaction commands may be immediately processed by the audio signalprocessing device.

Broadcaster

A broadcaster may be any system capable of sending audio signals ormetadata. The audio signals may be sent as radio frequency signals (RF),audio frequency signals (AF), video signals, or computer files thatcontain an audio signal. Radio frequency signals may include radio andtelevision transmissions. Audio frequency signals may include publicaddress systems such as audio systems found in public buildings,stadiums, theaters, schools, trains, ships, airplanes, busses, and othersystems. Audio file systems may include Internet storage anddistribution systems such as You Tube, Vimeo, iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, aswell as networked and stand-alone computerized file storage systems. Thebroadcaster may send a tone tip media production file to one or moreaudio signal processing device.

The broadcaster may receive the Tone Tip media Production (TTP) from theproducer with optional metadata. The broadcaster may transmit the tonetip media production file to one or more audio signal processing device,also referred to generally as a signal processing device. Thebroadcaster may also send Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD) to the tonecommand database. This broadcaster metadata may include broadcasteridentification, station identification, tone tip transmit time, uniquereference code, and other data relative to the broadcaster and tone tipmedia producer. After the broadcast, the broadcaster may retrievemetrics from the tone command database such as number of audio signalprocessing devices that received the tone tip media production file,type of response, and number of responses. Broadcaster tone tip data mayalso support history processing. History processing allows listeners tonavigate back to previously transmitted tone tip media production files.

Radio Data System (RDS) is a communications protocol standard forembedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radiobroadcasts. Radio Data System Radio Text (RDS-RT) is one function of RDSthat allows radio stations to transmit 64-characters of free-form text.That text may be either static or synchronized with the programming. Itis often seen on FM car radios when they display the station name,current song, and other broadcast information. RDS may be used to sendcommand or file reference information such as a unique reference code.With FM radio, the unique reference code may be broadcast as part of theRDS-RT to the FM radio receiver. The FM receiver may extract the uniquereference code from the RDS signal. A wireless or wired connection maysend the unique reference code from the radio to the audio signalprocessing device. This may be used as an optional path to send theunique reference code to audio signal processing devices. Othercommunication data transmission methods may be used, such as DARC,Direct Band, PAD and PDS.

Television broadcasters embed data such as closed caption informationwithin broadcast signals. The closed caption standard is CEA-708. PSIPis an ATSC TV protocol for carrying metadata within each TV channel.Multiple television standards and protocols allow information to beembedded within the broadcast signal. These various standards andprotocols may be used to send command or file reference information suchas unique reference code to TV receivers. The TV receiver may extractthe unique reference code from the TV signal. A wireless or wiredconnection may send the unique reference code from the TV to the audiosignal processing device.

The broadcaster may transmit station identification or other tone tipsthat do not display anything on the audio signal processing device. Thismay be used to determine the number, type, and location of audio signalprocessing devices within a region.

Listener

The “listener” is a signal processing device, such as an Audio signalProcessing Device (APD), which may be a smartphone, tablet computer, orany other device capable of decoding audio signals. Alternately theaudio signal processing device may receive the unique reference codethrough radio RDS or through TV ATSC or other TV protocols.

The audio signal processing device may receive a tone tip mediaproduction file from a broadcaster. The audio signal processing devicemay use more than one decoding method at a time to detect tone tips thatwere encoded using different methods. The audio signal processing devicemay decode the unique reference code from the tone tip media productionfile. Alternately, the unique reference code may be received as adigital signal through RDS-RT or ATSC protocol. The unique referencecode may be sent to the tone command database and may also include audiosignal processing device General Listener Data (GLD) metadata. Thegeneral listener data may include audio signal processing devicemetadata such as the model number of the device, geographic location,time of day and other metadata available from the audio signalprocessing device.

When the unique reference code is sent to the tone command database,it's called a Tone Command List Request (TCLR). A Tone Command ListRequest action acknowledges that an audio signal processing device hasreceived and decoded a tone tip production. It is a data retrievalrequest by the audio signal processing device to retrieve data from thetone command database.

The tone command database receives the data retrieval request from theaudio signal processing device, processes the request, and sends a tonecommand list to the audio signal processing device. The user may viewthe tone command list as displayed data items on a display device of theaudio signal processing device and respond, or ignore the tone commandlist.

The listener may also choose to receive tone tips in background mode onthe audio signal processing device. In background mode, the tone commandlist is saved to a history list that may be viewed at a later time. Thisis useful when the listener is busy with other activities, such asdriving a car, but wants to access the tone command list informationlater.

The audio signal processing device response may be by using an inputdevice, such as a touch screen device, or with voice commands using avoice command capable device. Instant action commands may be immediatelyprocessed by the audio signal processing device. The tone commanddatabase may record that the audio signal processing device received thetone command list.

If the listener responds to the tone command list by taking any actionon the audio signal processing device, the tone command database mayreceive a Tone Command Response (TCR) from the audio signal processingdevice. This tone command action response is the user request messagefor information related to data on the user interface. The user requestmessage may contain the specific listener actions responses, such asdialed number, displayed address, selected web site, or any othercommand selected. The tone command database may record and process theuser request message and respond by providing the associated data tocomplete the command. The audio signal processing device may processcommands including “call, map, navigate, web” and any other commandsselected from the tone command list.

The tone command database may also send historical broadcaster data tothe audio signal processing device. This may allow broadcaster tonecommand database history to be viewed on the audio signal processingdevice. The audio signal processing device may also select historyinformation from any broadcaster that sends broadcaster tone tip data tothe tone command database.

Tone Command Center (TCC):

The tone command center database may be used as a database and tone tipgeneration system to manage the tone command lists, tone tips, uniquereference codes, metadata and interactions between producers,broadcasters, and listeners. The tone command database may also beresponsible for registration and tracking of producers, broadcasters,and listeners. The tone command database may be a central database or adistributed database. The location of the tone command database may beselected by the audio signal processing device, or within the uniquereference code.

The producer may develop a tone command list and sends it to the tonecommand database. The tone command database may store the tone commandlist and assign a Unique Action Reference Code (UARC) to each tonecommand list. The tone command list file may contain tone commands,header data, and footer data, in addition to descriptive, structural,and administrative metadata, all generally referred to ascode-associated data. The tone command database may also storeinteractions from each device that received a tone tip. The interactionsmay include the reception of a tone tip on an audio signal processingdevice and a user response to each decoded tone tip. User responseinformation sent to the remote server may includesignal-processing-device-specific data or metadata such as datarepresentative of a device unique identification number, a device type,a device operating system, a current date, a current time, and/or adevice location. The unique reference code is a unique, set ofcharacters that identify the file and data associated with the tonecommand list. The unique reference code may be represented using binary,octal, decimal, hex, ASCII, UTF-8, UTF-16, or other character encodingmethod. The unique reference code may also command the audio signalprocessing device to immediately process an action without userinteraction.

The unique reference code may follow the same command and value formatas tone commands, however the format is intended to be shorter to limitthe number characters encoded and broadcast. The unique reference codemay start with one or more characters as a command. There may anoptional delimiter to separate the command from the value. There mayalso be options for the command and values.

A unique reference code may be encoded into audio or metadata files. Theencoded audio is called a tone tip. State of the art encoding techniquesmay be used to convert unique reference code into one or more audio tonetip signals. The audio encoding method may depend on the method chosento broadcast the tone tip. FM radio and Television have a widerbandwidth and higher frequency range than AM radio. FM radio may alsoencode the unique reference code into the broadcast signal using RDS-DT.TV may encode the unique reference code into the video or audio signal.Short Wave (SW), HF, VHF, radio typically has a narrower bandwidths thanFM radio and typically benefit from having a longer duration tone toencode the same amount of data. Audio encoded for streaming media on theInternet uses various encoding methods and the bandwidth is dependedupon the encoding method used. Larger bandwidth systems allow for higherfrequency, shorter duration tone tips, while narrow bandwidth systemsusually benefit from having longer duration tone tips to broadcast thesame quantity of data. Due to the variations in broadcast methods, thetone command database may generate more than one tone tip for eachunique reference code. The producer may choose which tone tip to usewhen producing audio or video to be broadcast.

Internet radio and video use compression and distribution techniquesdifferent than RF broadcast radio. Internet radio and video filestypically use MPEG-3, MPEG-4 and HE-AAC encoding. Public address systemssuch as those in stadiums, theaters, schools, buildings, airplanes,busses and trains have characteristics different than radio and benefitfrom having encoding appropriate for each audio environment. Thespecific text to audio encoding method used will be based on thebroadcast method and audio environment. State of the art encodingtechniques may be used to encode the unique reference code into an audiotone tip for broadcast and to decode the tone tip back into a uniquereference code at the audio signal processing device.

Modulation is a known method of encoding data on one or more carrierfrequencies. Radio Frequency (RF) modulation techniques include AM, FM,DTMF, PSK, BPSK, QPSK, MFSK, OFDM and other state of the art techniques.The same modulation techniques may be used on audio signals.Demodulation techniques may be used by the Audio signal ProcessingDevice (APD) to decode the tone tip signal back into a unique referencecode. Demodulation techniques may utilize FFT, Sparse FFT transforms orother state of the art decoding techniques. Multiple sets of identicaltone tips may also be broadcast in sequence. A pilot code signal mayalso be broadcast to enable the audio signal processing device to selectthe appropriate decoder algorithm. This may improve the bit error rateof the decoder and improve the probability of successful decoding.

Because of numerous broadcast methods, the tone command database maysend multiple tone tip audio files to the producer for each uniquereference code. One method may be to send three tone tip audio files,one optimized for TV, one optimized for AM radio, and one optimized forstreaming media. This will allow the producer to select the tone tipaudio file that's appropriate for the method being used to broadcast theaudio or video production. The producer may decide to include all tonetip audio files within one media production to ensure all broadcastmethods are covered with only one media file.

When the tone tip media production file is transmitted by a broadcaster,the broadcaster may send Broadcast Tone Tip Data (BTTD) to the tonecommand database. Broadcaster tone tip data may include broadcasteridentification, time of day, and other relative broadcast metadata. Thebroadcaster tone tip data may be used by the tone command database tocorrelate audio signal processing device reception and response datawith a particular broadcast. This may allow broadcasters and producersto determine how many listeners received the tone tip, how manyresponded to a particular broadcast, what command they selected, werethe listeners were located and collect useful information from otheraudio signal processing device metadata. The consolidated data may alsoshow the geographic audio signal processing device area, response rateand density. Producers may use audio signal processing device andbroadcast data to determine the effectiveness for media productions aswell as broadcasters. Broadcaster tone tip data may also be used toimprove audio signal processing device decoding by receiving broadcasterhistory data while the audio signal processing device is listening tothe broadcaster. This method may allow unique reference code informationto be pushed to all audio signal processing devices listening to aparticular broadcaster.

Tone Tip Applications

The sequences below provide details on examples of tone tipapplications, starting with simple Text applications and concluding withintegrated multi-function systems.

Direct Tone Text Processing

Referring to FIG. 4, at step 412, the producer selects Direct Text Tone(DTT).

At step 414, the producer enters text manually or the text may beautomatically by using another program that accesses the direct textfunction.

At step 416, the producer creates one or more tone tip media productionfiles for direct text. The unique reference code, containing the textcontent, is then automatically generated.

At step 420, the producer sends one or more tone tip media productionfiles to the broadcaster 430.

At step 432, the broadcaster receives one more tone tip media productionfiles.

At step 440, the broadcaster sends one or more tone tip media productionfiles to audio signal processing devices 442 using radio or audiosignals.

At step 450, the audio signal processing device receives at least onetone tip media production file by way of audio 452 or radio signals.

At step 454, the audio signal processing device decodes and processesthe tone tip media production file.

At step 456, the audio signal processing device displays text.

Direct text application may send text data from one device to one moredevices using encoded audio. Direct text may be sent from broadcastradio to many listeners, or by using two way communication radiosbetween two or more devices. This may be useful during emergencyconditions when the Internet and phone service is unavailable, but radiofrequency broadcast and communication radios and televisions arefunctioning. More than one type of tone tip media production file may bebroadcast in order to increase the probably of decoding.

FIG. 4 Illustrates Direct Tone Text (DTT) processing. The producer 410may select direct text encoding at the user interface 412. The selectionmay include selecting the transmission method, such as Audio Frequency(AF), Radio Frequency (RF), or infrared options. The producer may alsoselect encoding for high, medium, and low audio frequency bands.Frequency selection may be for RF or AF. The producer may select allencoding types and receive a tone tip media production file for eachencoding type. The text to be sent may then be entered into the producerinterface 414. Shorter text messages may produce a tone tip mediaproduction file of shorter duration while longer messages may benefitfrom having a longer duration. After entering text, the tone tip mediaproduction file 416 may be produced. The unique reference code may becreated as part of this process.

The unique reference code format may follow a formatted sequence wherethere's a command, optional delimiter, followed by a value and possibleoptions. In the case of direct text, the command may be a text message,or specific text data such as a phone number, GPS location, web siteURL, phone command, or other categorized text data. One or more tone tipmedia production files may be sent to the broadcaster 420. Thebroadcaster may immediately send tone tip media production files 432 orstore for later use. The broadcaster may send one or more tone tip mediaproduction files to one or more audio signal processing devices 440. Thetone tip media production file may be sent as AF 442, RF or metadata. Ifthe production file is sent as RF, it may be received by a radio andconverted to audio. The tone tip media production file may be receivedat a microphone 452 by the audio signal processing device 450 and theunique reference code may be decoded by the audio signal processingdevice 454. The unique reference code may contain a Text Message commandas well as the text message. The text message 456 may be displayed afterdecoding.

Direct Tone Text Processing—Smartphone

Referring to FIG. 5, at step 510, the producer smartphone 500 or otheraudio encoding device, selects Direct Text Tone (DTT) 512.

At step 514, the producer enters text manually or the text may beautomatically entered by using another program that accesses the directtext function.

At step 516, the producer creates one or more tone tip media productionfiles for direct text tone processing. The unique reference code,containing text content, is automatically generated.

At step 520, the producer sends one or more tone tip media productionfiles to broadcaster 530.

At step 532, the broadcaster receives one more tone tip media productionfiles.

At step 535, the broadcaster sends one or more tone tip media productionfiles to the audio signal processing device speaker.

At step 540, the broadcaster sends one or more tone tip media productionfiles to audio signal processing devices 542 using Radio or audiosignals.

At step 550, the audio signal processing device receives at least onetone tip media production file using audio 552 or radio signals.

At step 554, the audio signal processing device 556 decodes andprocesses the tone tip media production file.

At step 558, the audio signal processing device displays the decodedtext.

Direct text may also be used to send text between one smartphone ortablet computer and one or more smartphones or tablet computers, usingaudio signals. Decoding is more successful when audio receiving devicesare in close proximity to the audio source since audio signals attenuatequickly. The process is illustrated in FIG. 5. Processing is the same asshown in FIG. 4. The main differentiation is that the Smart Phone may beboth the producer and broadcaster.

The producer and broadcaster may be a smartphone or tablet computer500). The producer may select direct text 512 encoding. Part of theselection may include selecting the transmission method, such as AudioFrequency (AF) or Bluetooth options. The producer may also select high,medium, and low frequency audio frequency encoding or other encodingmethod selection. The producer may select all encoding types and receivea tone tip media production file for each encoding type. The text to besent may then be entered into the producer interface 514. Shorter textmessages may produce a tone tip media production file of shorterduration while longer messages may benefit from having a longerduration. After entering text, the tone tip media production file 516may be produced. The unique reference code may be created as part ofthis process. The unique reference code format may follow the sequenceshown where there's a command, optional delimiter, followed by a valueand possible options. In the case of text message transmission, thecommand may be a text message, or specific text data such as a phonenumber, GPS location, web site URL, phone command, or other categorizedtext data.

One or more tone tip media production files may be sent to thebroadcaster 520. The broadcaster may immediately send tone tip mediaproduction files 532 or store for later use. The broadcaster may sendthe tone tip media production file to one or more audio signalprocessing devices 540). The tone tip media production file may be sentas AF 542), or Bluetooth. The tone tip media production file is receivedusing a microphone 552 by the audio signal processing device 554 and theunique reference code may be decoded by the audio signal processingdevice 556. The unique reference code may contain the Text Messagecommand as well as the text message. The text message 558 may bedisplayed after decoding.

Tone Link Processing

Referring to FIG. 6, at step 600, the producer selects Tone Link (TL)and a file item 602. The item may be a text message, link, photo, video,web site, or a computer (digital) file.

At step 604, the producer selects a command to send the selected item.

At step 606, producer automatically generates a tone unique referencecode and a tone tip audio file.

At step 608, the producer sends the unique reference code and item totone command database 612

At step 647, the tone command database stores the unique reference codeand item in tone command database 620

At step 610, the producer sends one or more tone tip audio files tobroadcaster.

At step 630, the broadcaster may immediately use or store tone tip flies632.

At step 634, the broadcaster broadcasts one or more tone tips usingradio or audio signals.

At step 636, the broadcaster sends audio signal to audio signalprocessing device 638

At step 640, the audio signal processing device receives 642 and decodesat least one tone tip 644 and obtains the unique reference code.

At step 645, the audio signal processing device sends unique referencecode to tone command database.

At step 646, the item request message is received by the tone commanddata base.

At step 647, the tone command data base receives the unique referencecode and correlates it with the original item in the tone commanddatabase

At step 648, the tone command database sends the item to the audiosignal processing device.

At step 649, audio signal processing device displays the items orcompletes the requested command. The audio signal processing device mayalso store the time stamped item in a history list.

Tone links may send links to text messages, photos, videos, phonenumbers, business cards, documents, and any other file item from aproducer to one or more audio signal processing devices. The purpose isto send one item from a producer to one or more audio signal processingdevices. The difference between tone text and tone link is that tonetext sends the content of the message as part of the unique referencecode, where tone link send may send a unique reference code link to thecontent and the content may be stored on a Tone Command Center (TCC)data server or other location.

The producer 600 may be any computing device such as a smart phone,laptop, desktop computer, or network computer. The producer may also bea computer program, running on a computing device. The producer andbroadcaster may be one device, such as a smart phone, desktop laptop ornetwork computer. The producer may be connected to the tone commanddatabase 612 through the Internet, cell phone network or other network.After the tone link computer program is started, the producer may selectthe item to be broadcast 602. After selecting the item to be broadcast,the producer may send the item to the broadcaster 604. A uniquereference code may be generated along with an audio tone tip file thatcontains the encoded unique reference code 606. In order to distinguishfrom other reference codes, the unique reference code may contain aproducer identification code, producer metadata, encoding time, and anitem code to produce a unique reference code. The unique reference code,metadata, and Item may be sent to the tone command center 608. The ToneCommand Center (TCC) database 620 may store the unique reference code,metadata, and the item 647. The producer may send one or more tone tipsto the broadcaster 610.

The broadcaster 630 may transmit one or more tone tips 632 to one moreListeners 634. The receiver 636 converts the broadcast signal into audio638 for detection by the audio signal processing device 640. Theproducer may generate one or more tone tip Productions (compositesignals) and send them to several broadcasters for distribution. Thebroadcaster may use RF such as a radio or TV, or use audio frequency,such as a public address system, computer, smart phone or tabletcomputer. The broadcaster may be separate from the producer or they maybe combined into one device. The producer and broadcaster may also becombined into one device such as a smart phone or tablet computer.Producer and broadcaster personnel may physically be at one locationlike a TV or radio station.

The Listener audio signal processing device 640 may receive the audio642 and decode at least one tone tip 644 into a unique reference code645. The reference code 645 may be sent 646 to the tone command databaseto request the item associated with the reference code. The tone commanddatabase may receive the unique reference code and request thecorresponding item 647. The tone command database may send the item tothe audio signal processing device 648. The audio signal processingdevice may receive and display or process the item 649.

Public Address System Processing

Referring to FIG. 7, at step 710, the producer may complete a tonecommand list 712.

At step 714, the producer may send the tone command list to a data-baseserver for the tone command database.

At step 730, the tone command database server may receive the completedtone command list 715 from the producer and store the associated dataand commands.

At step 732, the tone command database server may create a uniquereference code for each new tone command list received. The tone commanddatabase server may send the tone command list 778 to the listener APD770 for storage on an internal data storage device in advance of thetransmission of a tone tip.

At step 732, the tone command database server may encode a uniquereference code into one or more tone tip audio files (code signals).

At step 716, the tone command database server may send one or more tonetip audio files and optional metadata to the producer. The producer mayreceive these as audio files or as links to audio files.

At step 718, the producer may insert or merge one or more tone tip audiofiles into an Audio Production (AP) file, as an audio base signal, tocreate a tone tip media Production (TTP) file as a composite signal. Theproducer may also insert the unique reference code and metadata into thetone tip media production file metadata.

At step 720, the producer may send one or more tone tip media productionfiles to one or more broadcasters.

At step 750, the broadcaster may receive tone tip media production filesfrom the producer and stores it for later use 752 or uses itimmediately.

At step 754, the broadcaster may send the tone tip media production fileto audio signal processing devices through audio distribution system758, which may include a speaker 760 that converts the audio signal tosound 762.

At step 753, the broadcaster may send broadcaster tone tip metadata tothe tone command database 730.

At step 770, the audio signal processing device may receive at least onetone tip media production file audio file 772.

At step 774, the audio signal processing device may decode at least oneunique reference code from the tone tip media production file.

At step 776, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandList Request (TCLR) to the tone command database server 730. The tonecommand database server may receive the data retrieval request and mayretrieve the tone command list 715 associated with the unique referencecode.

At step 777, the tone command database server may send the tone commandlist to the audio signal processing device 770.

At step 778, the audio signal processing device may receive and displaythe tone command list from the tone command database server, theinternal database of the audio signal processing device, or may processan instant action message. The audio signal processing device may storethe time stamped tone command list in a history list.

At step 734, the producer may receive broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD).

At step 736, the producer may receive Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD).

At step 755, the broadcaster may receive Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD).

If a command is selected at the audio signal processing device, then atstep 779, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandResponse (TCR) to the tone command database server 730.

At step 770, the audio signal processing device may process the tonecommand as requested.

At step 780, the audio signal processing device may use other networkresources as appropriate to complete tone command actions.

At step 790, the audio signal processing device may send the userrequest message data to the producer if requested by the producer.

Instant Action Commands

Instant action commands may be processed immediately by the audio signalprocessing device. The sequence may use the steps above to process thetone command response at step 779 automatically (without listenerinteraction).

The tone tip Public Address System application FIG. 7 focuses on formsof electronic sound amplification and distribution systems includingsound reinforcement systems, paging systems, and “PA over IP”.

The primary difference between PA and Radio/TV applications is thebroadcast and distribution method. Radio broadcasting usually sendssignals to a much larger audience, spread over a large geographic arearanging from small towns, to countries, continents, and in some cases,the entire world. Public address systems are usually focused on smallergroups in small areas such as a bus, airplane, ship, train, building,stadium, or campus. PA systems distribute signals though soundamplification and distribution systems, where radio uses RFamplification and distribution systems.

The Public Address application may start with the producer 710. Theproducer may be any computing device such as a smart phone, laptop,desktop or network computer. The producer may also be a computerprogram, running on a computing device. The producer may be connected tothe tone command database through the Internet, cell phone or othernetwork.

After the tone tip computer program is started, the producer maycomplete the tone command list 712. The producer may select images,commands, values, and options for each tone command. The producer mayhave the option to select the broadcast environment. The broadcastenvironment may be vastly different in a train versus an open stadium.The tone command list may be comprised of one or more Tone Commands.There may also be tone command list optional items such as photos, aheader, footer, history, back/forward buttons and other navigation anddisplay elements. The tone command list may also include producer andcontent metadata.

The tone command list may be sent to the tone command database server atstep 714 where it is stored in tone command database 715. The tonecommand database may assign a Unique Action Reference Code 732. Theunique reference code may contain the unique tone command database filecode assigned to the tone command list. One or more audio tone tips (TT)may be generated from each unique reference code. The tone commanddatabase may generate more than one tone tip to allow the producer toselect the tone tip that is most appropriate for the media environmentused to deliver the tone tip media production file. The tone tip andoptional metadata may be sent to the producer 716.

The producer may add one or more tone tip audio files and metadata tothe Audio Production (AP) file 718 to form the Tone Tip Production (TTP)file. The producer may send the tone tip media production file to one ormore broadcasters 720.

The broadcaster may receive the tone tip media production file 750. Thetone tip media production file 752 may be used immediately or stored forlater use. The distribution and amplification system 754 may send tonetip media production file audio to one or more speakers or headset 760.The tone tip media production file audio from the speakers or headset762 may be received by one or more audio signal processing devices 772.The broadcaster may send Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD) 753 to thetone command database. Broadcaster tone tip data may support system dataanalysis, reporting, listeners back channel processing.

The audio signal processing device may request Back Channel Processingwhen a tone tip is detected, but decoding is incomplete or invalid. Theaudio signal processing device may use historical data retrieval requestinformation and tone command database resources to determine whatbroadcaster sent the last valid tone tip to the audio signal processingdevice. If the current invalid tone tip reception time matches thebroadcaster tone tip data reception time from the last tone tip mediaproduction file Broadcast, then the tone command center may provide themost current tone command list from the broadcaster to the audio signalprocessing device. The technique may be called Back Channel Processingbecause it uses back end network channels and historical data ratherthan the primary audio channel.

The Listener Audio signal Processing Device 770 may receive the audioand decode the tone tip into the unique reference code 774. If thecode-associated data is stored on the internal data storage device ofthe audio signal processing device, the unique reference code may beused to lookup the tone command list located in the internal database ofthe APD. If the code-associated data is not stored on the internal datastorage device of the audio signal processing device, the uniquereference code may be sent to the tone command database server torequest the tone command list as a Tone Command List Request (TCLR) 776.The tone command database server may receive the unique reference codeand correlate the unique reference code with the code-associated tonecommand list 715.

The tone command database server may send the tone command list to theaudio signal processing device 777. The audio signal processing devicemay receive and display the tone command list 778. The Listener may takeaction on the tone command list, or ignore the tone command list. Ifaction is taken on the tone command list, the tone command list may beprocessed by the audio signal processing device. The audio signalprocessing device may use other network resources 780 to process acommand requiring external resources, such as calling a phone,retrieving a map, or displaying a website. A Tone Command Response (TCR)may be sent to the tone command database server at step 779. A userrequest message may also be sent to the producer 790. The broadcastermay request Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD) 755. The producer may requestListener Tone Tip Data (LTTD) 734 or Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (LTTD)736 from the tone command database 730.

The audio signal processing device may request Back Channel Processingwhen a tone tip is detected, but decoding is incomplete or invalid. Theaudio signal processing device may use historical data retrieval requestand tone command database resources to determine what broadcaster sentthe last valid tone tip to the audio signal processing device. If thecurrent invalid tone tip reception time matches the broadcaster tone tipdata reception time from the last tone tip media production fileBroadcast, then the tone command center may send the most current tonecommand list from the broadcaster to the audio signal processing device.The technique may be called Back Channel Processing because it uses backend network channels and historical data rather than the primary audiochannel. It may also be used to send unique reference code data to anaudio signal processing device when audio is not available or is of poorquality. See historical sequence diagram FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 8, at step 812, the producer may complete the tonecommand list and send it to the tone command database server 830. Thetone command list input may include one or more encoding methodselections.

At step 814, the tone command database may receive the completed tonecommand list from the producer.

At step 815, the tone command database server may store the tone commandlist data on the tone command database.

At step 832, the tone command database server may create a Unique ActionRequest Code (UARC) or unique reference code for each new tone commandlist received.

At step 832, the tone command database server may encode the uniquereference code into one or more tone tip audio files. The tone commanddatabase server may send the newly generated tone command list to one ormore audio signal processing devices in advance of the transmission ofany associated tone tips.

At step 816, the tone command database server may send one or more tonetip audio files to the producer.

At step 818, the producer may insert one or more tone tip files andoptional metadata into a tone tip media production (TTP) file.

At step 820, the producer may send the tone tip media production file toone or more broadcasters. The broadcasters may include radio, TV,satellite, and cable broadcasters.

At step 850, the broadcaster may receive the tone tip media productionfile from producer.

At step 852, the broadcaster sends the tone tip media production file toradio and or TV receivers.

At step 853, the broadcaster may send Broadcast Tone Tip Data (BTTD) tothe tone command database.

At step 860, a radio/TV signal receiver may receive the tone tip mediaproduction file from the broadcaster.

At step 862, the receiver may plays audio through speaker(s) or aheadset.

At step 872, the audio signal processing device may receive at least onetone tip.

At step 874, the audio signal processing device may decode at least onetone tip into the associated unique reference code.

At step 876, the audio signal processing device may send a dataretrieval request and device metadata to the tone command databaseserver if the command list for the decoded code is not stored on theaudio signal processing device. If the command list for the decoded codeis stored on the audio signal processing device, the command list isretrieved without sending a request to the tone command database server.

At step 830, the tone command database server may receiveaudio-signal-processing-device-specific metadata and the data retrievalrequest. The tome command database server then may save audio signalprocessing device metadata,

At step 815 the tone command database server may retrieve the tonecommand list associated with unique reference code.

At step 877, the tone command database may send the tone command list tothe audio signal processing device.

At step 878, the audio signal processing device may receive and displaythe tone command list and save the list to the history list. If thedevice is listening in background mode, the tone command list may besaved to the device history list but may not display the list on thedevice until requested by the user.

At step 834, the producer may receive Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD)if the data is requested from the tone command database server.

At step 836, the producer receive may Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD) ifthe data is requested from the tone command database server.

At step 855, the broadcaster may receive Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD)if the data is requested from the tone command database server.

If a command is selected by the user (listener) at audio signalprocessing device, then the actions below may be processed.

At step 870, the audio signal processing device may process tone commandactions as requested by the user.

At step 880, the audio signal processing device may use other networkresources to complete a command action. The other network resources mayinclude the telephone network to process a telephone call, the internetto request a web site, or other resource not associated with the tonecommand database.

At step 879, the audio signal processing device may send a tone CommandResponse (TCR) to the tone command database server, includingaudio-signal-processing-device data including data representative of anaction taken by a user using an item in the displayed tone command list.

At step 890, the audio signal processing device may send user requestmessage history data to the producer if requested by the producer.

Instant Action Commands

Instant action commands may be processed immediately by the audio signalprocessing device. The sequence may use the steps above but may processstep 879 automatically (without listener interaction).

The tone tip broadcast application focuses on RF broadcasts includingradio, TV, cable, and satellite communications.

The broadcast application may start with the producer. The producer maybe any computing device such as a smart phone, laptop, desktop ornetwork computer. The producer may also be a computer program, runningon a computing device. The producer and broadcaster may be consolidatedinto one device.

After the tone tip computer program is started, the producer 810 maycomplete the tone command list 812. The producer may select commands,values, and options for each tone command. The producer may have theoption to select the broadcast environment. The broadcast environment isdifferent for AM radio verses FM radio, TV, cable and satellite. Thetone command list may be comprised of one or more tone commands. Theremay also be tone command list optional items such as image, header,footer, history, back/forward buttons and other navigation and displayelements. The tone command list may also include producer and contentmetadata.

The tone command list may be sent to the tone command database 830 whereit is stored 815. The tone command database may assign a Unique ActionReference Code (UARC) 832 to the tone command list. The unique referencecode may contain the unique tone command database file code assigned tothe tone command list. One or more audio tone tips may be generated fromthe unique reference code. The tone command database may generate morethan one tone tip to allow the producer to select the tone tip that ismost appropriate for the media environment used to deliver the tone tipmedia production file. The tone tips and optional metadata may be sentto the producer 816. The producer may add one or more tone tip audiofiles and metadata to the audio production file 818 to produce the ToneTip Production (TTP) file. The producer may send the tone tip mediaproduction file 820 to one or more broadcasters 850.

The broadcaster may receive the tone tip media production file 850. Thetone tip media production file may be used immediately by thebroadcaster or stored for later use. The tone tip media production filemay be sent to one or more radio or TV receivers 852. Broadcaster ToneTip Data (BTTD) 853 may be sent to the tone command database 810.Broadcaster tone tip data may support system data analysis, reportingand back channel processing.

A radio or TV signal receiver 860 may detect the RF signal and convertit back into audio 862 by outputting on a speaker 861 or headset, andsend the audio to the audio signal processing device 872. The receiver860 and audio listening device 870 may be considered to be a receiverassembly. The audio receiver may be contained within the Listeners audiosignal processing device, such as a smartphone with a built in radio, orreception of Internet radio, or other Internet audio or video content,in which case the audio signal processing device functions as thereceiver assembly.

The audio signal processing device 870 may receive the tone tip mediaproduction file and decode the tone tip into a unique reference code874. The audio signal processing device then determines whethercode-associated data in the form of a tone command list associated withthe unique reference code is stored on the internal data storage deviceof the audio signal processing device. If the tone command list isstored on the internal data storage device, the unique reference codemay be used to retrieve the tone command list from the internal datastorage device on the audio signal processing device. In response to thedecoding of the tone tip into the unique reference code, the audiosignal processing device may send to the tone command database serveraudio-signal-processing-device-specific data, including a device uniqueidentification number. If the tone command list associated with theunique reference code is not stored on the internal data storage device,the unique reference code, along with General Listener Data (GLD) may besent to the tone command database server as a Tone Command List Request(TCRL) 876.

The tone command database server 830 may process the TCRL, use theunique reference code to reference the code-associated tone command list815 and send the tone command list to the audio signal processing device877. The tone command database server may also store audio signalprocessing device metadata (audio-signal-processing-device-specificdata), the unique reference code, and broadcaster tone tip data. Thisdata is used for real time and post event analysis.

After receiving the tone command list 878 from the internal data storagedevice or the tone command database server, the audio signal processingdevice may receive and display the tone command list 878. The Listenermay take one or more actions associated with the tone command list. Ifone or more actions are taken, audio-signal-processing-device-specificdata including a device unique reference number and a Tone CommandResponse (TCR) may be sent to the tone command database server 879 forevery action on the displayed tone command list taken by the user. Theaudio signal processing device may use external network resources 880 toprocess a command requiring external resources, such as calling a phone,retrieving a map, or displaying a website. A user request message 890may also be sent to the producer for every action taken on the audiosignal processing device. The user request message may contain audiosignal processing device metadata, unique reference code, and list ofspecific commands selected at the audio signal processing device.

The producer may request audio signal processing device data 834 andbroadcaster tone tip data 836. This data may be used for analysis todetermine listener response, tone tip media production fileeffectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness, and other informationassociated with broadcast media.

The broadcaster may request audio signal processing device data 855 andbroadcaster tone tip data to conduct real time and post event analysis.This analysis may be used to determine listener response, tone tip mediaproduction file effectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness, broadcastercoverage area and other information associated with broadcast media.

The audio signal processing device may request back channel processingwhen a tone tip is detected, but decoding is incomplete or invalid. Backchannel processing may be when the audio signal processing device anduses a historical data retrieval request and tone command databaseresources to determine what broadcaster sent the last valid tone tip tothe audio signal processing device. If the current invalid tone tipreception time matches the broadcaster tone tip data reception time fromthe last tone tip media production file broadcast, then the tone commandcenter may send the most current tone command list from the broadcasterto the audio signal processing device. The technique may be called BackChannel Processing because it uses back end network channels andhistorical data rather than the primary audio channel. It may also beused to send unique reference code data to an audio signal processingdevice when audio is not available or is of poor quality. See historicalsequence diagram illustrated in FIG. 9.

At step 900, the audio signal processing device may request broadcasterhistory. Broadcast history may include automatic history processing,history button, search, back channel processing or any history relatedaction.

At step 920, the audio signal processing device may send TC HistoryRequest (TCHR) to the tone command database. The history request maycontain time, broadcaster tone tip data and audio signal processingdevice metadata.

At step 950, the tone command database may correlate broadcaster tonetip data and time received to the unique reference code 952.

At step 955, the tone command database may build a TC History List(TCHL).

At step 925, the tone command database may send history list to theaudio signal processing device.

At step 910, the audio signal processing device may display the historylist.

If a command is selected by a user (listener) at audio signal processingdevice, then processing may continue with the steps below.

At step 930, the audio signal processing device may send a dataretrieval request to the tone command database.

At step 950, the tone command database may receive and processes thedata retrieval request.

At step 935, the tone command database may send the requested tonecommand list to audio signal processing device and audio signalprocessing device may display the tone command list. The listener maytake action using the audio signal processing device by selecting one ormore of the commands.

A listener may hear information on the radio, TV or Internet thatincludes a tone tip, but doesn't have the tone tip application runningat the time. Tone tip history processing may allow the audio signalprocessing device to retrieve, view, and act upon tone tips previouslysent from broadcasters. The audio signal processing device may accessbroadcaster history using automatic or manually methods.

If automatic history is enabled, the audio signal processing device mayautomatically receive broadcaster history data whenever a valid tone tipis received. After one tone tip is received from a broadcaster, thebroadcaster may be identified by the audio signal processing device ifthe tone command list contains the broadcaster ID as part of the tonecommand list or broadcaster tone tip data is received by the tonecommand database. After the broadcaster is identified by the tonecommand database, historical tone command list data may be retrievedfrom the tone command database to build the TCHL. The TCHL may be thensent to the audio signal processing device.

Manual history may also be used when the audio signal processing deviceinitiates a history search routine. A listener may initiate manuallyprocessing using the audio signal processing device when a broadcasteris selected from a previous history list or as the result of a searchroutine.

The listener may select automatic history processing from the audiosignal processing device or manually initiate a history related searchon the audio signal processing device 900. The history related interfacemay include history navigation buttons, history screens, and searchroutines. The audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandHistory Request (TCHR) to the tone command database 920. The historyrequest may include audio signal processing device metadata, broadcasterID, date and time. This data may be used by the tone command database950 to look up the unique reference code for a broadcaster 952 at aspecific time.

A Broadcaster Tone Command History List (TCHL) may be developed 955 andsent to the audio signal processing device 925. The tone command listmay be displayed by the audio signal processing device 910. Time xrepresents the time that tone command list x was sent by thebroadcaster. Title x represents the title or heading of tone commandlist x. Other tone command list commands, navigation and displayelements may also appear in the TCHL. If the Listener responds to theTCHL and selects a command from the tone command list on the audiosignal processing device, a data retrieval request may be sent to thetone command database 930. The tone command database may receive thedata retrieval request and send the tone command list to the audiosignal processing device 935. The audio signal processing device maydisplay the tone command list.

At step 1016, the broadcaster may play music.

At step 1018, the broadcaster may transmit music to radio or TVreceivers.

At step 1014, the broadcaster music may be received and processed by theMusic Recognition System (MRS).

At step 1014, the broadcaster music recognition system may retrievemusic metadata from music file being played or broadcaster musicrecognition system uses external services such as Gracenote, Shizam, orSoundhound to recognize music, title, artist and other metadata.

At step 1012, the broadcast processor may receive music metadata, add itto broadcaster tone tip data 1011 and send it to the tone commanddatabase.

At step 1000, the tone command database may receive and recordbroadcaster tone tip data as part of broadcaster history 1005.

At step 1020, music may be received by the radio or TV signal receiver.The music may then be output on a speaker 1022 to the audio signalprocessing device 1040. This may occur any time after step 1018.

At step 1042, music may be received on a microphone in the audio signalprocessing device and the audio signal processing device synchronizeswith the broadcaster to receive music metadata.

At step 1055, the tone command database may send the Tone Command ListMusic data (TCLM) to the audio signal processing device.

At step 1040, the audio signal processing device may receive music data.

At step 1044, the audio signal processing device may display music data.

At step 1050, if the user (listener) may take action at the audio signalprocessing device, a Tone Command Response (TCR) may be sent to the tonecommand database and the commands may be processed by the audio signalprocessing device as a broadcast application command as described in thebroadcast application.

Tone Command List Music data (TCLM) may provide a method for the audiosignal processing device to display music data that was played by thebroadcaster. The music data may be displayed in sequence, as with othertone command lists, and may also be displayed in the broadcaster historylist.

Music metadata may include artist, title, genre, year and other musicmetadata commonly referred to as ID3 or ISRC. Other data may be added tothe music data including band videos, artist schedules, artist store,news, web sites, and other information. Services may be available thatrecognize music being played on radio stations, TV stations, andelsewhere. Current services include Gracenote, SoundHound, Shizam, andothers. Music data may use the data output of music recognition softwareor service if the broadcast audio does not include music metadata. Musicrecognition may be accomplished by the broadcaster, audio signalprocessing device, or the tone command database.

A radio or TV station 1010 may play music 1016 and it may be transmittedto radio or TV receivers 1018. The music may be received by thereceivers 1020. The music is output on at least one speaker 1022 orheadset and received by the microphone 1042 of one or more audio signalprocessing devices 1040. Music may be received by the music recognitionsystem 1014. If it's received as a music file, music metadata may beextracted and sent to the Broadcast Processor (BP) 1012. If filemetadata is not available, a music recognition service such asGracenote, SoundHound, or Shizam may be used to receive music metadata.Music metadata may be sent as part of broadcaster tone tip data to thetone command database 1011. Broadcaster tone tip data may include musicmetadata, broadcaster ID, time, and other broadcaster metadata.

The tone command database may send the Tone Command List Music data 1005(TCLM) to the audio signal processing device 1055. The music data may bedisplayed in sequence, as with other tone command lists 1044. If actionis taken by the Listener, a Tone Command Response (TCR) may be sent tothe tone command database 1050 and the command may be processed.Commands may be processed by the audio signal processing device as adescribed in the broadcast application section.

At step 1110, the producer may complete the tone command list 1112 andsend it to the tone command database 1114.

At step 1115, the tone command database may receive the completed tonecommand list from producer and stores the data. The tone command listinput includes one or more encoding method selections.

At step 1132, the tone command database may create a unique referencecode for each new tone command list received, encode unique referencecode into one or more tone tip audio files and produce one or moremetadata files. The tone command database may send the tone command listto the internal database on the internal data storage device of one ormore audio signal processing device.

At step 1116, the tone command database may send at least one tone tipaudio file, unique reference code to the producer. The tone commandcenter may also send metadata file to the producer.

At step 1118, the producer may insert one or more tone tip files into anaudio or video production file (audio, video, presentation, or othercomputer file). The producer may also insert metadata into the tone tipmedia production file.

At step 1120, the producer may send the tone tip media production fileto a file or web server to act as the tone tip media production filedistribution device (broadcaster).

At step 1150, the broadcaster may receive the tone tip media productionfile from the producer.

At step 1162 a, the audio signal processing device may request the tonetip media production file from broadcaster. This step is not applicableif the audio signal processing device may receive files automatically.

At step 1162 b, the broadcaster may send tone tip media production fileto audio signal processing device as requested (i.e. YouTube, Vimeo,Pandora, email, etc.).

At step 1153, the broadcaster may send broadcaster tone tip data to thetone command database.

At step 1170, the audio signal processing device may receive and decodethe unique reference code 1174 from tone tip media production audio fileor metadata file. The audio signal processing device may determinewhether the tone command list associated with the unique reference codeis stored on the internal data storage device of the audio signalprocessing device. If the tone command list is stored on the internaldatabase, the audio signal processing device may use the uniquereference code to look up the tone command list from the internaldatabase of the audio signal processing device.

At step 1176, if the tone command list is not stored on the internaldatabase, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandList Request (TCLR) to the tone command database. The list request maycontain the unique reference code and device metadata in the form ofaudio-signal-processing-device-specific data, including a device uniqueidentification number.

At step 1130, the tone command database receives the data retrievalrequest, saves the audio signal processing device metadata, andretrieves the tone command list associated with the unique referencecode

At step 1177, the tone command database may send the tone command listto audio signal processing device. Thus, the tone command list may beretrieved from the internal database, or from the external, remote tonecommand database.

At step 1178, the audio signal processing device may receive and displaythe tone command list and save the tone command list to the devicehistory list. If the user has selected background mode, the tone commandlist may be saved to the device history list without actively displayingthe list until requested by the user. If a command is selected by theuser at audio signal processing device, then the following steps may beprocessed.

At step 1179, the audio signal processing device may process the tonecommand as requested by the user and send a Tone Command Response (TCR)to the tone command database along with device metadata(audio-signal-processing-device-specific data) including datarepresentative of the action taken by the user.

At step 1180, the audio signal processing device may use other networkservices to complete command action selected by the user.

At step 1190, the audio signal processing device may send a user requesthistory message to producer if the producer requested user requesthistory.

At step 1134, the producer may receive Listener Tone Tip Data (LTTD) ifthe data is requested from the tone command database.

At step 1136, the producer may receive Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD)if the data is requested from the tone command database.

At step 1155, the broadcaster may receive audio signal processing devicedata if the data is requested from the tone command database.

The tone tip static application focuses on static media files that arestored on network servers, computers, and independent storage devices.Network servers include Internet media distribution servers such asYouTube, Pandora, Vimeo, NetFlix and network broadcasters. Independentstorage devices may include individual computer file storage devicessuch as hard drives, solid state drives, and USB drives. Media filesinclude audio, video, and presentation files.

The static file application may start with the producer 1110. Theproducer may be any computing device. The producer may also be acomputer program, running on a computing device. The producer andbroadcaster may be consolidated into one device. After the tone tipcomputer program is started, the producer may complete the tone commandlist 1112. The producer may select commands, values, and options foreach tone command. The producer may also select tone command listoptional items such as a header, footer, history, back/forward buttonsand other navigation and display elements. The tone command list mayalso include producer and content metadata.

The tone command list 1114 may be sent to the tone command database 1130where it is stored. The tone command database may assign a Unique ActionReference Code (UARC) 1132. The unique reference code may contain aunique tone command database file code assigned to the tone commandlist. An audio tone tip file may be generated from the unique referencecode 1132. The tone tip and metadata 1116 may be sent to the producer.

The producer may add the tone tip audio and metadata to the AudioProduction (AP) file 1118 to form the Tone Tip Production (TTP) file.The producer may send the tone tip media production file 1120 to one ormore broadcasters 1150.

The broadcaster 1150 may receive the tone tip media production file1120. The tone tip media production file may be stored for later use.The audio signal processing device may request a tone tip mediaproduction file from a broadcaster 1162 a or receive the tone tip mediaproduction file independently from another source such an email orseparate audio or video tone tip media production file. The tone tipmedia production file may be sent to one or more audio signal processingdevice 1162 b as requested by the audio signal processing device.Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD) may be sent to the tone commanddatabase 1153. Broadcaster tone tip Data is broadcaster metadata thatmay contain tone tip transmit time and date, station identification,producer information, advertiser and other broadcaster metadata.

The audio signal processing device may receive the tone tip mediaproduction file and decodes the tone tip into the unique reference codeor extract the unique reference code from the metadata 1174. The uniquereference code along with General Listener Data (GLD) may be sent to thetone command database as a Tone Command List Request (TCLR) 1176. Audiosignal processing device metadata 1155 may be sent to the broadcaster1150.

The tone command database may process the tone command list request, usethe unique reference code to reference the tone command list 1112 andreturn the tone command list to the audio signal processing device 1177.The tone command database may also store audio signal processing devicemetadata, unique reference code, and broadcaster tone tip data. This maybe used for real time and post event analysis.

The audio signal processing device may receive and display the tonecommand list 1178. The Listener may now take one or more actionsassociated with the tone command list. If one or more actions are taken,a Tone Command Response (TCR) may be sent to the tone command databasefor every action 1179 with an option to send a user request message tothe producer 1190. The user request message may contain audio signalprocessing device metadata, unique reference code, and list of specificcommands selected at the audio signal processing device.

The producer may request audio signal processing device data 1134 andbroadcaster tone tip data 1136 to conduct real time and post eventanalysis. This analysis may be used to determine listener response, tonetip media production file effectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness, andother information associated with the tone tip media production file.

The broadcaster may request audio signal processing device 1155. Thisdata may be used for analysis to determine listener response, tone tipmedia production file effectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness,broadcaster coverage area and other information associated with the tonetip media production file.

The steps below may be completed before disconnecting from the tonecommand center.

At step 1210, the producer may complete the tone command list 1212.

At step 1214, the producer may send the tone command list to the tonecommand database.

At step 1215, the tone command database may receive the tone commandlist from the producer and store the data.

At step 1232, the tone command database may create a unique referencecode for each new tone command list received and encode a uniquereference code into one or more tone tip audio files.

At step 1216, the tone command database may send one or more tone tipaudio files and the unique reference code to the producer.

At step 1218, the producer may insert a tone tip into tone tip mediaproduction file. The producer may also insert metadata into the mediaproduction file.

At step 1220, the producer may send tone tip media production files andmetadata to the onboard platform tone command database. The tone commanddatabase may send the tone command list to the internal database of oneor more audio signal processing devices.

At step 1250, the platform tone command database may store tone tipmedia production files and metadata.

Platform Underway (Disconnected from Internet)

At step 1250, the broadcaster may send tone tip media production filesto one or more audio signal processing devices through a public addresssystem 1260 or media distribution system 1262.

At step 1272, the audio signal processing device may receive the mediaproduction file.

At step 1284 the audio signal processing device may decode the uniquereference code from the tone tip media production file or from the filemetadata.

At step 1264, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandList Request (TCLR) to the platform tone command database.

At step 1252, the platform tone command database may receive a dataretrieval request, save audio signal processing device metadata, andretrieve the tone command list associated with unique reference code.

At step 1266, the platform tone command database may send a tone commandlist to the audio signal processing device.

At step 1282, the audio signal processing device may receive anddisplays tone command list from the platform tone command database andrecord the tone command to the history list. If the user has selectedbackground mode, the audio signal processing device may record the tonecommand list in the history list and may display the tone command listwhen requested by the user.

If a command is selected at the audio signal processing device, then thesteps below may be processed.

At step 1280, the audio signal processing device may process the tonecommand as requested.

At step 1268, the audio signal processing device may send a user requestmessage to the platform tone command database if external action isinvolved.

At step 1250, the platform tone command database may process the userrequest message from the audio signal processing device.

Response actions and services may be performed by the platform tonecommand database.

At step 1254 the platform tone command database may build the tonecommand action response.

At step 1270, the tone command database may send a Tone Command ActionResponse (TCAR) to the audio signal processing device.

At step 1280, the audio signal processing device may display the ToneCommand Action Response (TCAR) and performs related actions.

Tone tip transportation mode is focused on transportation platforms suchas trains, planes, automobiles, ships, and busses, specifically whenthey're disconnected from the Internet. Transportation platforms may usetone tips through the public address system or media distribution systemfor platform information, multi-lingual information, salesannouncements, meal and snack ordering and general announcements. Theseare inherently noisy environments and present their own technicalchallenges in delivering the tone tip, unique reference code, andrelated tone command list information to listeners. The public addresssystem, onboard entertainment system, and standalone wireless network,may be used to broadcast tone tip media production files to audio signalprocessing devices.

Since the Internet is not always available on transportation platforms,the broadcaster may act as the platform tone command database.Generally, the only tone command list and content information that wouldbe available would be data that's stored or preloaded on the platformtone command database or linked audio signal processing devices. Thebroadcaster may plan to store all tone command list data and associatedcontent that may be requested by audio signal processing devices. Thismay include all data that is displayed when a command is selected from atone command list. The broadcaster may elect to have a platform uniqueaudio signal processing device application to limit errors associatedwith data retrieval requests linked to off platform tone command lists.

As shown in FIG. 12, after the tone tip computer program is started, theproducer 1210 may complete the Tone Command List (TCL) 1212. Theproducer may select the commands, values, and options for each tonecommand. The producer may also select tone command list optional itemssuch as a header, footer, history, back/forward buttons and othernavigation and display elements. The tone command list may also includeproducer and content metadata.

The tone command list 1214 may be sent to the tone command database 1215where it may be stored. The tone command database may assign a UniqueAction Reference Code (UARC) 1232. The unique reference code may containa unique tone command database file code assigned to the tone commandlist. One or more audio tone tip files may be generated from the uniquereference code 1232. The tone tip and metadata 1216 may be sent to theproducer.

The producer may add the tone tip audio files and metadata to the AudioProduction (AP) file 1218 to form the Tone Tip Production (TTP) file.The producer may send the tone tip media production file to one or morebroadcasters 1220. The broadcaster may receive the tone tip mediaproduction file 1250. The tone tip media production file may be storedfor later use.

When the platform tone command database receives all planned tone tipmedia production files, the broadcaster may disconnect from the tonecommand database and from the Internet. This commonly occurs withaircraft are in flight, ships are underway, trains and automobiles areout of range of Internet services. When Internet service is available,the audio signal processing device may connect to the tone commanddatabase through the Internet or cell phone network. In this case, theaudio signal processing device may use either broadcast or PA tone tipapplications.

The direct text application may also available for communicationsbetween the broadcaster and audio signal processing devices whendisconnected from the Internet.

The broadcaster may send the tone tip media production file to one moreaudio signal processing device through the PA 1260 or media distributionsystems 1262. The tone tip media production file may be received by theaudio signal processing device 1272 and the unique reference code may bedecoded from the tone tip or the tone tip media production file metadata1284. The data retrieval request may be sent to the Platform tonecommand database 1264. The Platform tone command database may receivethe data retrieval request, and retrieve the tone command listassociated with unique reference code 1252. The tone command list may besend to the audio signal processing device 1266. The tone command listmay be displayed on the audio signal processing device 1282 and thelistener may respond. When the listener responds, a user request messagemay be sent to the platform tone command database 1268 from the audiosignal processing device. The platform tone command database may providecontent associated with the user request message 1254 and provides aTone Command Action Response (TCAR) to the audio signal processingdevice 1270. The audio signal processing device may display the TCAR orsave TCAR data to the tone command history list.

At step 1310, the producer may complete tone command list 1312.

At step 1314, the producer may send a tone command list to the tonecommand database.

At step 1315, the tone command database may receive tone command listfrom producer and stores data.

At step 1332, the tone command database may create a Unique ActionRequest Code (UARC) for each new tone command list received.

At step 1332, the tone command database may encode a unique referencecode into a Metadata File (MDF).

At step 1316, the tone command database may send a metadata file to theproducer.

At step 1318, the producer may insert the metadata file into a Tone TipProduction (TTP) file.

At step 1320, the producer may send a tone tip media production file tothe broadcaster.

At step 1350, the broadcaster may receive a tone tip media productionfile from the producer.

At step 1352, the broadcaster may send a tone tip media production fileto Radio/TV receivers 1358.

At step 1353, the broadcaster may send Broadcast Tone Tip Data (BTTD) tothe tone command database.

At step 1360, the receiver may receive and decode the unique referencecode from tone tip media production file. The unique reference code maybe contained in the media metadata file.

At step 1361 a sonic signal may be output on a speaker or headset.

At step 1362, the receiver may send the unique reference code to audiosignal processing device using Bluetooth or other network connection.

At step 1370, the audio signal processing device may receive the uniquereference code from the receiver.

At step 1376, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandList Request (TCLR) to the tone command database. The list request maycontain unique reference code and audio signal processing devicemetadata.

At step 1377, the tone command database may receive a data retrievalrequest, saves audio signal processing device metadata, retrieve thetone command list associated with unique reference code and send tonecommand list to audio signal processing device.

At step 1378, the audio signal processing device may receive anddisplays the tone command list.

If the user selects a command at audio signal processing device, thenthe following steps may be processed.

At step 1370, the audio signal processing device may process tonecommands as requested by the user.

At step 1380, the audio signal processing device may use other networkresources to complete action processing.

At step 1379, the audio signal processing device may send a Tone CommandResponse (TCR) to the tone command database.

At step 1390, the audio signal processing device may send a user requestmessage to the producer if requested by the producer.

At step 1336, the producer may request and receive broadcaster tone tipdata and audio signal processing device data 1334.

At step 1354, the broadcaster may request and receive audio signalprocessing device data.

Instant Action Commands

Instant action commands may be processed immediately by the audio signalprocessing device. The sequence may use the steps above but processesstep 1370 automatically (without listener interaction).

The tone tip Bluetooth broadcast application focuses on RF broadcastsincluding radio, TV, cable, and satellite communications. The differencebetween the Bluetooth application and the regular broadcast applicationis that the Bluetooth method focuses on delivery of the unique referencecode to the audio signal processing device via Bluetooth rather thanaudio. The unique reference code may be decoded from broadcast RF dataat the Radio/TV receiver rather than AF data at the audio signalprocessing device. Bluetooth encoding and decoding eliminates decodingerrors often associated with audio signal processing.

Radio Data System (RDS) is a communications protocol standard forembedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radiobroadcasts. RDS Radio Text (RDS-RT) is one function of RDS that allows aradio station to transmit 64-characters of free-form text. That text maybe static or synchronized with the programming. With FM radio, theunique reference code may be broadcast as part of the RDS-RT to the FMradio receiver. A Bluetooth connection may send the unique referencecode from the radio to one or more audio signal processing devices.Other communication data transmission methods may be used, such as AMSS,DARC, Direct Band, PAD, PDS and other state of the art methods. Thedetailed of the Bluetooth method is shown in FIG. 14.

The broadcast application may start with the producer. The producer maybe any computing device such as a smart phone, laptop, desktop ornetwork computer. The producer may also be a computer program, runningon a computing device. The producer and broadcaster may be consolidatedinto one device.

After the tone tip computer program is started, the producer 1310 maycomplete the Tone Command List (TCL) 1312. The producer may selectcommands, values, and options for each tone command. The producer mayselect the Bluetooth standard for encoding and transmission. Broadcastencoding is different FM radio, TV, cable and satellite. The tonecommand list may be comprised of one or more Tone Commands. There mayalso be tone command list optional items such as a header, footer,history, back/forward buttons and other navigation and display elements.The tone command list may also include producer and content metadata.

The tone command list may be sent to the tone command database where itis stored 1315. The tone command database may assign a Unique ActionReference Code (UARC) 1332. The unique reference code may contain aunique file code assigned to the tone command list. A Metadata File(MDF) may be generated which includes the unique reference code 1332.The MDF may be sent to the producer 1316.

The producer may add the MDF to the Audio Production (AP) file to formthe Tone Tip Production (TTP) file 1318. The producer may send the tonetip media production file to one or more broadcasters 1320.

The broadcaster may receive tone tip media production files from one ormore producers 1350. The tone tip media production file may be usedimmediately or stored for later use. The tone tip media production filemay be sent to one or more radio or TV signal receivers 1352.Optionally, Broadcaster Tone Tip Data (BTTD) may be sent to the tonecommand database 1353. Broadcaster tone tip data may support system dataanalysis and reporting.

The radio or TV receiver may detect the RF signal 1358 and extract theunique reference code from the metadata file or other encoded datastream 1360. The unique reference code may be sent to the audio signalprocessing device 1362 using a Bluetooth, wireless, or wired connectionor transmitted as a sonic signal when output on a speaker 1361. Thismethod eliminates decoding errors associated with audio frequency signalprocessing. In some cases, the radio receiver may be contained withinthe audio signal processing device, such as a smartphone with a built inradio, or reception of Internet radio, or other Internet audio or videocontent.

The audio signal processing device may receive the unique reference code1370. As with other tone tip processes, the unique reference code alongwith General Listener Data (GLD) may be sent the tone command databaseas a Tone Command List Request (TCRL) 1376. The tone command databasemay process the TCRL, using the unique reference code to reference thetone command list 1315 and return the tone command list to the audiosignal processing device 1377. The tone command database may store audiosignal processing device metadata, unique reference code, andbroadcaster tone tip data. This may be used for real time and post eventanalysis. The audio signal processing device receives and display thetone command list 1378. The Listener may now take one or more actionsassociated with the tone command list. If one or more actions are taken,a Tone Command Response (TCR) 1379 may be sent to the tone commanddatabase. A Tone Command Response (TCR) may be sent to the producer forevery action taken by the listener 1390 if requested by the producer.

The audio signal processing device may use other network resources 1380to complete action processing. The user request message may containaudio signal processing device metadata, unique reference code, and alist of specific commands selected. The producer may request audiosignal processing device data 1334 and broadcaster tone tip data 1336 toconduct real time and post event analysis or other purposes. Thisanalysis may be used to determine listener response, tone tip mediaproduction file effectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness, and otherinformation associated with broadcast media. The broadcaster may requestaudio signal processing device data 1354 and broadcaster tone tip datato conduct real time and post event analysis. This analysis may be usedto determine listener response, tone tip media production fileeffectiveness, broadcaster effectiveness, broadcaster coverage area andother information associated with broadcast media.

Details of Bluetooth are illustrated in FIG. 14. A broadcaster 1450 maytransmit a tone tip media production file to one or more TVs or radios1455. The tone tip media production file may include one or moremetadata files that contain one or more reference codes associated withthe tone tip media production file. The radio or TV 1460 receiverdetects the signal 1462 and decodes the broadcast message 1464. Theunique reference code is extracted from the broadcast data. The uniquereference code is then encoded for Bluetooth transmission and sent to aBluetooth transmitter 1466. The unique reference code is transmitted1468 to one or more audio signal processing device in the receiving areaof the Bluetooth signal 1470. Additional hardware and software may beprovided for TVs and radios to decode the encoded unique reference codeand transmit it using Bluetooth.

FIG. 15 is one example of a user interface on an audio signal processingdevice 1500. This example illustrates that multiple areas may bedesignated by the application, tone command database, producer,broadcaster, or listener to display information. The top of the display1510 of the display device may contain details or setting information.Other areas 1515, 1520 near the top may display headline, title or otherinformation. One or more images 1525 may be included as part of the userinterface. One or more commands 1530 may be included as displayed dataitems on the display device screen. One or more smaller linked areas1540 may be provided to accommodate links to other actions such associal media, email, and text. This figure is intended for illustrativepurposes only. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those skilledin the art of user interface design.

FIG. 16 is one example of a producer interface 1610. In this example amedia producer is provided with a list of options for the Tone CommandList (TCL) to be displayed on the Audio signal Processing Device 1630.The tone command list may include a title, heading, images, commands,social media links, metadata input, and options for action buttoncolors. This example illustrates how the producer may be presented witha preview screen 1650 of the display device showing how the tone commandlist may appear on an audio signal processing device. This figure isintended for illustrative purposes only. Many other embodiments will beapparent to those skilled in the art of user interface design anddatabase design.

An example of a composite signal having an audio base signal and singletone tip signals is illustrated in FIG. 17. The entire audio frequencyband 1700, also referred to as a sonic first frequency bandwidth havinga single tone tip signal 1710, having a smaller second frequencybandwidth as shown in the upper portion 1750 of the audio frequency bandof the base signal. The portion of the audio base signal most audible tohumans is shown at 1720 and occupies the lower portion of the audiofrequency band of the base signal. Frequencies below 5 kHz are moredetectable by humans and frequencies above 5 kHz are less detectable byhumans.

In order to mask the tone tip signal, the media producer may keep thepeak amplitude of the tone tip signal 4 dB or more below the peakamplitude of the main media signal. The amplitude difference is shown at1730. This may be done for the duration of the tone tip signal.

The maximum upper range of the frequency band depends on the media beingused. The upper limit of AM radio may be 7 kHz and the upper limit ofthe FM band may be 20 kHz. Public address systems, also called soundamplification systems, may have an upper limit of 5 kHz for lowerquality PA systems, while high quality sound amplification systems maybe beyond 20 kHz. Compressed audio and video have audio frequency limitsdependent upon the compression and decompression method.

Higher frequencies are less detectable by humans. The media producer maydesire to use the higher frequency tone tip signals to make the tone tipaudio less detectable by humans. The media producer may also endure theamplitude of the tone tip signal may be at least 5 dB below the peakaudio signal. An audio distribution system may further limit audiodistribution so the media producer utilize more than one tone tip withina tone tip production file. A tone tip media production may be made foreach media type, including a tone tip signal best suited for thedelivery media.

An example of a composite signal having an audio base signal and pluraltone tip signals is illustrated in FIG. 18. The entire audio frequencyband or sonic first frequency bandwidth is shown at 1800. The upperlimit of human hearing is 20 kHz. Humans are primarily sensitive tofrequencies below 5 kHz. Audio from human voices typically has a highestamplitude in the lower frequency range 1810 of human hearing and humansare less sensitive to higher frequencies. This allows tone tips (codesignals) to be added to the upper half 1815 of the audio band 1800 ofmedia productions (audio base signals) with little or no impact to theaudio production. Since different media may use different frequencyselections, the media producer may include more than tone tip withineach media production. The media producer may add one tone tip 1820 forstreaming media, one 1830 for FM radio, and a third 1840 for highquality PA systems in the same audio production. The advantage to thismethod is that the media producer may produce one media production thatmay be delivered to multiple media distribution channels.

In order to mask the tone tip signal, the media producer may keep thepeak amplitude of the tone tip signals 4 dB or more below the peakamplitude of the main media signal 1860. This may be done for theduration of the tone tip signal.

A benefit to the producer of receiving two or more tone tip audio filesfrom the tone command center database is that it saves production time.If one tone tip is 18 kHz and the other is 14 kHz, a producer developinga media production for both radio and a podcast may use the 18 kHz forradio and 14 kHz for the more frequency limited podcast. If just onefrequency is generated by the TCC, then the producer may request the TCCto generate a second frequency. Following are examples of frequenciesthat may be used to produce tone tips for different exemplary media.Other frequencies for these or other media may also be used.

18 kHz for what may be considered extra-wide bandwidth media (20 Hz-20kHz), such as FM radio, TV, highly compressed audio and video files, lowquality streaming media, high quality public address systems, MicrosoftPowerPoint audio files, and uncompressed audio files;

14 kHz for what may be considered wide bandwidth media (20 Hz to 17kHz), such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, and other high qualitypodcasts, medium quality streaming media, compressed audio files, andmedium quality public address systems;

10 kHz for what may be considered medium bandwidth media (20 Hz-14 kHz),such as medium quality podcasts and compressed audio files;

5 kHz for what may be considered low bandwidth media (20 Hz to 12 kHz),such as AM radio, highly compressed audio files, lower quality streamingmedia, and low quality public address systems; and

2.5 kHz for what may be considered very low bandwidth media (below 12kHz), such as telephones, AM radio, shortwave radio, highly compressedaudio and video files, low quality streaming media, and other lowbandwidth transmissions.

If a composite signal includes two or more tone tips, then widebandwidth media like FM radio would transmit both 18 kHz and 14 kHz tonetips while YouTube would cut out the higher frequency. Logic within adecoder of the signal processing device could ignore the second tone tipif received within a predetermined period of time, such as 30 seconds.

An audio signal processing device may be configured to listen to morethan one set of decoding parameters. The benefit is that the userdoesn't have to manually switch the signal processing device betweenFM/TV decoding and Internet (i.e., YouTube or other media distributedvia the Internet) encoding. A cost of doing this is that dual processinguses more power, but it's not two times more power. An audio signalprocessing device may be configured to listen for all 5 bands above;however two tone tips having respective frequency bands selected for lowand medium bandwidths may cover a large majority of the different typesof media in use.

As shown in FIG. 19, this example describes a data processing system1900 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In thisexample, data processing system 1900 is an illustrative data processingsystem suitable for implementing aspects of data communication withacoustic signal communication as described in the preceding description.More specifically, in some examples, devices that are embodiments ofdata processing systems (e.g., smartphones, tablets, personal computers)may be used as a server in the tone command center, the producer, thebroadcaster, or the audio signal processing device in the variousembodiments described above.

In this illustrative example, data processing system 1900 includescommunications framework 1902. Communications framework 1902 providescommunications between processor unit 1904, memory 1906, persistentstorage 1908, communications unit 1910, input/output (I/O) unit 1912,and display 1914. Memory 1906, persistent storage 1908, communicationsunit 1910, input/output (I/O) unit 1912, and display 1914 are examplesof resources accessible by processor unit 1904 via communicationsframework 1902.

Processor unit 1904 serves to run instructions that may be loaded intomemory 1906. Processor unit 1904 may be a number of processors, amulti-processor core, or some other type of processor, depending on theparticular implementation. Further, processor unit 1904 may beimplemented using a number of heterogeneous processor systems in which amain processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. Asanother illustrative example, processor unit 1904 may be a symmetricmulti-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type.

Memory 1906 and persistent storage 1908 are examples of storage devices1916. A storage device is any piece of hardware that is capable ofstoring information, such as, for example, without limitation, data,program code in functional form, and other suitable information eitheron a temporary basis or a permanent basis.

Storage devices 1916 also may be referred to as computer-readablestorage devices in these examples. Memory 1906, in these examples, maybe, for example, a random access memory or any other suitable volatileor non-volatile storage device. Persistent storage 1908 may take variousforms, depending on the particular implementation.

For example, persistent storage 1908 may contain one or more componentsor devices. For example, persistent storage 1908 may be a hard drive, aflash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, orsome combination of the above. The media used by persistent storage 1908also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be usedfor persistent storage 1908.

Communications unit 1910, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. In these examples,communications unit 1910 is a network interface card. Communicationsunit 1910 may provide communications through the use of either or bothphysical and wireless communications links.

Input/output (I/O) unit 1912 allows for input and output of data withother devices that may be connected to data processing system 1900. Forexample, input/output (I/O) unit 1912 may provide a connection for userinput through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable inputdevice. Further, input/output (I/O) unit 1912 may send output to aprinter. Display 1914 provides a mechanism to display information to auser.

Instructions for the operating system, applications, and/or programs maybe located in storage devices 1916, which are in communication withprocessor unit 1904 through communications framework 1902. In theseillustrative examples, the instructions are in a functional form onpersistent storage 1908. These instructions may be loaded into memory1906 for execution by processor unit 1904. The processes of thedifferent embodiments may be performed by processor unit 1904 usingcomputer-implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory,such as memory 1906.

These instructions are referred to as program instructions, programcode, computer usable program code, or computer-readable program codethat may be read and executed by a processor in processor unit 1904. Theprogram code in the different embodiments may be embodied on differentphysical or computer-readable storage media, such as memory 1906 orpersistent storage 1908.

Program code 1918 is located in a functional form on computer-readablemedia 1920 that is selectively removable and may be loaded onto ortransferred to data processing system 1900 for execution by processorunit 1904. Program code 1918 and computer-readable media 1920 formcomputer program product 1922 in these examples. In one example,computer-readable media 1920 may be computer-readable storage media 1924or computer-readable signal media 1926.

Computer-readable storage media 1924 may include, for example, anoptical or magnetic disk that is inserted or placed into a drive orother device that is part of persistent storage 1908 for transfer onto astorage device, such as a hard drive, that is part of persistent storage1908. Computer-readable storage media 1924 also may take the form of apersistent storage, such as a hard drive, a thumb drive, or a flashmemory, that is connected to data processing system 1900. In someinstances, computer-readable storage media 1924 may not be removablefrom data processing system 1900.

In these examples, computer-readable storage media 1924 is a physical ortangible storage device used to store program code 1918 rather than amedium that propagates or transmits program code 1918. Computer-readablestorage media 1924 is also referred to as a computer-readable tangiblestorage device or a computer-readable physical storage device. In otherwords, computer-readable storage media 1924 is non-transitory.

Alternatively, program code 1918 may be transferred to data processingsystem 1900 using computer-readable signal media 1926. Computer-readablesignal media 1926 may be, for example, a propagated data signalcontaining program code 1918. For example, computer-readable signalmedia 1926 may be an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal, and/orany other suitable type of signal. These signals may be transmitted overcommunications links, such as wireless communications links, opticalfiber cable, coaxial cable, a wire, and/or any other suitable type ofcommunications link. In other words, the communications link and/or theconnection may be physical or wireless in the illustrative examples.

In some illustrative embodiments, program code 1918 may be downloadedover a network to persistent storage 1908 from another device or dataprocessing system through computer-readable signal media 1926 for usewithin data processing system 1900. For instance, program code stored ina computer-readable storage medium in a server data processing systemmay be downloaded over a network from the server to data processingsystem 1900. The data processing system providing program code 1918 maybe a server computer, a client computer, or some other device capable ofstoring and transmitting program code 1918.

The different components illustrated for data processing system 1900 arenot meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrativeembodiments may be implemented in a data processing system includingcomponents in addition to and/or in place of those illustrated for dataprocessing system 1900. Other components shown in FIG. 19 can be variedfrom the illustrative examples shown. The different embodiments may beimplemented using any hardware device or system capable of runningprogram code. As one example, data processing system 1900 may includeorganic components integrated with inorganic components and/or may becomprised entirely of organic components excluding a human being. Forexample, a storage device may be comprised of an organic semiconductor.

In another illustrative example, processor unit 1904 may take the formof a hardware unit that has circuits that are manufactured or configuredfor a particular use. This type of hardware may perform operationswithout needing program code to be loaded into a memory from a storagedevice to be configured to perform the operations.

For example, when processor unit 1904 takes the form of a hardware unit,processor unit 1904 may be a circuit system, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device, or some othersuitable type of hardware configured to perform a number of operations.With a programmable logic device, the device is configured to performthe number of operations. The device may be reconfigured at a later timeor may be permanently configured to perform the number of operations.Examples of programmable logic devices include, for example, aprogrammable logic array, a field programmable logic array, a fieldprogrammable gate array, and other suitable hardware devices. With thistype of implementation, program code 1918 may be omitted, because theprocesses for the different embodiments are implemented in a hardwareunit.

In still another illustrative example, processor unit 1904 may beimplemented using a combination of processors found in computers andhardware units. Processor unit 1904 may have a number of hardware unitsand a number of processors that are configured to run program code 1918.With this depicted example, some of the processes may be implemented inthe number of hardware units, while other processes may be implementedin the number of processors.

In another example, a bus system may be used to implement communicationsframework 1902 and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as asystem bus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may beimplemented using any suitable type of architecture that provides for atransfer of data between different components or devices attached to thebus system.

Additionally, communications unit 1910 may include a number of devicesthat transmit data, receive data, or both transmit and receive data.Communications unit 1910 may be, for example, a modem or a networkadapter, two network adapters, or some combination thereof. Further, amemory may be, for example, memory 1906, or a cache, such as that foundin an interface and memory controller hub that may be present incommunications framework 1902.

It can be seen from the above examples, that various functions andstructures may be used. For example, a data base system, such as theTone Command Center, may be configured to receive from a production ordistribution entity, generally referred to as a producer, a commandlist, such as a Tone Command List. The Tone Command List may include oneor more commands defining an action to be taken by a signal processingdevice, such as an audio signal processing device, or an associated fileitem. The data base system may assign a unique reference code to thereceived command list, and generate at least one code signal encodedwith the unique reference code, each code signal being appropriate foroutput on a speaker. The data base system may then transmit the at leastone code signal to the producer.

When more than one code signal is generated, the code signals may have afrequency spectrum or bandwidth selected for transmission in aparticular media, and each code signal may have a different bandwidthfor transmission in different media. The bandwidths of the code signalsmay be in an upper half of a bandwidth of the associated media.

The data base system may also receive the unique reference code and arequest for the associated command or file-item list from a signalprocessing device, such as an audio signal processing device thatreceived and decoded one of the at least one code signal. The data basesystem may then retrieve the command list for the received code signal,and send the command list to the signal processing device. The data basesystem may also receive and store a message received from the signalprocessing device of what action was taken by the signal processingdevice in response to the command list.

The data base system may also receive a notification from a broadcasteror other distributor of the code signal indicating information about abroadcasting or distribution of the code signal. The data base systemmay send such broadcasting or distribution information to the producer,and then may also send to the producer or the broadcaster informationabout action taken by one or more signal processing devices in responseto the received command list.

In some examples, the producer may produce a command list, send thecommand list to the data base system, and request at least oneassociated code signal. More than one associated code signal may berequested, and appropriate code signals may be requested for differentmedia. The producer may receive the one or more code signals and producea composite signal having frequencies within a sonic first frequencybandwidth, the composite signal including an audio base signal and oneor more code signal. Each code signal may be encoded with a code, have aduration shorter than a duration of the base signal, and have a secondfrequency bandwidth within the first frequency bandwidth. The secondfrequency may be in an upper half of the first frequency bandwidth. Oneor more of the code signals in the composite signal may have anamplitude that is less than 4 dB below a peak amplitude of the basesignal. The producer may send the composite signal or may send one ormore code signals to a broadcaster for broadcast or other distribution.

The producer may also receive a notification from a broadcaster or otherdistributor of the code signal or from the data base system indicatinginformation about a broadcasting or distribution of the code signal. Theproducer may also receive from the data base system or from one or moresignal processing devices information about action taken by one or moresignal processing devices in response to the received command list.

This section describes additional aspects and features of interactivedata communication with acoustic signal communication, presented withoutlimitation as a series of paragraphs, some or all of which may bealphanumerically designated for clarity and efficiency. Each of theseparagraphs can be combined with one or more other paragraphs, and/orwith disclosure from elsewhere in this application, in any suitablemanner. Some of the paragraphs below expressly refer to and furtherlimit other paragraphs, providing without limitation examples of some ofthe suitable combinations.

A0. A method comprising receiving from a communication media on a signalreceiver a composite signal having frequencies within a sonic firstfrequency bandwidth, the composite signal including an audio base signaland at least one code signal, the code signal being encoded with a code,having a duration shorter than a duration of the base signal, and havinga second frequency bandwidth within the first frequency bandwidth;outputting the composite signal on a speaker, the speaker converting thecomposite signal into sound; while outputting the composite signal,detecting by a signal processing device the output sound correspondingto the code signal; determining the code from the detected output soundcorresponding to the code signal; retrieving from a data storage devicedata associated with the code; and displaying on a display device theretrieved data.

A1. The method of paragraph A0, wherein retrieving data associated withthe code includes retrieving content including at least one of a fileitem, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user, a link to anInternet web site, a command for the computing device, one or moreactions to be performed by the computing device, or a combination of oneor more of each of two or more of these types of content.

A2. The method of paragraph A0, wherein retrieving data associated withthe code includes retrieving a plurality of data items for selection bya user, and displaying the retrieved data includes displaying theplurality of data items, the method further comprising receiving on thesignal processing device an input from a user selecting at least one ofthe plurality of displayed data items.

A3. The method of paragraph A2, further comprising sending to a remoteserver associated with the code signal an indication as to the at leastone of the plurality of data items selected by the user.

A4. The method of paragraph A2, further comprising, in response toreceiving an input from a user selecting at least one of the pluralityof displayed data items, sending to a remote server associated with thecode signal information about the signal processing device at the timeof the selection or information related to the selection.

A5. The method of paragraph A4, wherein sending information about thesignal processing device includes sending one or more items ofinformation selected in any combination from the group of anidentification of the signal processing device, an ambient condition ofthe signal processing device that is detected by the signal processingdevice, a date of the selection, and a time of the selection.

A6. The method of paragraph A0, wherein receiving a composite signalincludes receiving a composite signal having a plurality of codesignals, detecting the output sound corresponding to the code signalincludes detecting the output sound corresponding to the plurality ofcode signals, and determining the code corresponding to the code signalincludes determining the code corresponding to a selected one of thecode signals.

A7. The method of paragraph A6, wherein each of the plurality of codesignals has a different frequency spectrum.

A8. The method of paragraph A7, wherein receiving a composite signalincludes receiving a composite signal in which each of the plurality ofcode signals has an associated second frequency bandwidth that is withinthe upper half of the first frequency bandwidth.

A9. The method of paragraph A0, wherein receiving a composite signalincludes receiving a composite signal in which the second frequencybandwidth is within the upper half of the first frequency bandwidth.

B0. In some examples, a method comprising receiving from a communicationmedia on a signal receiver a composite signal having frequencies withina sonic first frequency bandwidth, the composite signal including anaudio base signal and at least one code signal, the code signal beingencoded with a code, having a duration shorter than a duration of thebase signal, and having a second frequency bandwidth within the firstfrequency bandwidth; outputting the composite signal on a speaker, thespeaker converting the composite signal into sound; while outputting thecomposite signal, detecting by a signal processing device the outputsound corresponding to the code signal; determining the code from thedetected output sound corresponding to the code signal; automatically inresponse to determining the code and prior to displaying information inresponse to determining the code, determining whether code-associateddata associated with the code is stored on an internal data storagedevice of the signal processing device, and if it is determined that thecode-associated data is stored on the internal data storage device,retrieving from the internal data storage device the code-associateddata, and if it is determined that the code-associated data is notstored on the internal data storage device, retrieving thecode-associated data from a data-base server that is remote from thesignal processing device and has an associated data storage devicestoring in a code data base a plurality of different codes andrespective code-associated data for each of the plurality of differentcodes; automatically in response to determining the code, sending to thedata-base server signal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number, displaying on a display device ofthe signal processing device the retrieved code-associated data;receiving on the signal processing device a user input that is inputusing the displayed code-associated data; and automatically in responseto receiving the user input, sending to the data-base server thesignal-processing-device-specific data also including datarepresentative of the specific user action taken.

B1. The method of paragraph B0, wherein retrieving the code-associateddata includes retrieving at least one of a file item, file metadata,text to be displayed to a user, a link to an Internet web site, acommand for the computing device, or one or more actions to be performedby the signal processing device.

B2. The method of paragraph B0, wherein retrieving the code-associateddata includes retrieving a plurality of data items for selection by auser, and displaying the retrieved code-associated data includesdisplaying the plurality of data items, and receiving a user inputincludes receiving a user input selecting at least one of the pluralityof displayed data items.

B3. The method of paragraph B0, wherein receiving a composite signalincludes receiving a composite signal having a plurality of codesignals, detecting the output sound corresponding to the code signalincludes detecting the output sound corresponding to the plurality ofcode signals, and determining the code corresponding to the code signalincludes determining the code corresponding to a selected one of thecode signals.

B4. The method of paragraph B3, wherein receiving a composite signalhaving the plurality of code signals includes receiving a compositesignal having at least two code signals having the same code anddifferent frequency spectra.

C0. A receiver assembly comprising a signal receiver for receiving froma communication media a composite signal having frequencies within asonic first frequency bandwidth, the composite signal including an audiobase signal and a code signal, the code signal being encoded with acode, having a duration shorter than a duration of the base signal, andhaving a second frequency bandwidth within the first frequencybandwidth; a speaker operatively coupled to the signal receiver foroutputting the composite signal, including the audio base signal and thecode signal, as sound; and a signal processing device configured todetect the output sound corresponding to the code signal, determine thecode from the detected output sound corresponding to the code signal,retrieve from a data storage device data associated with the code, anddisplay the retrieved data.

C1. The receiver assembly of paragraph C0, wherein the signal processingdevice is further configured to retrieve content including at least oneof a file item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user, a link toan Internet web site, a command for the computing device, one or moreactions to be performed by the computing device, or a combination of oneor more of each of two or more of these types of content.

C2. The receiver assembly of paragraph C0, wherein the signal processingdevice is further configured to retrieve content including a pluralityof data items for selection by a user, display the plurality of dataitems, and receive an input from a user selecting at least one of theplurality of displayed data items.

C3. The receiver assembly of paragraph C2, wherein the signal processingdevice is further configured to send to a remote server associated withthe code signal an indication as to the at least one of the plurality ofdata items selected by the user.

C4. The receiver assembly of paragraph C2, wherein the signal processingdevice is further configured, in response to receiving an input from auser selecting at least one of the plurality of displayed data items, tosend to a remote server associated with the code signal informationabout the signal processing device at the time of the selection orinformation related to the selection.

C5. The receiver assembly of paragraph C4, wherein the signal processingdevice is further configured to send to the remote server one or moreitems of information selected in any combination from the group of anidentification of the signal processing device, an ambient condition ofthe signal processing device that is detected by the signal processingdevice, a date of the selection, and a time of the selection.

C6. The receiver assembly of paragraph C0, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal having a pluralityof code signals, and the signal processing device is further configuredto detect the output sound corresponding to the plurality of codesignals, and determine the code corresponding to a selected one of thecode signals.

C7. The receiver assembly of paragraph C6, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal in which each of theplurality of code signals has a different frequency spectrum.

C8. The receiver assembly of paragraph C7, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal in which each of theplurality of code signals has an associated second frequency bandwidththat is within the upper half of the first frequency bandwidth.

C9. The receiver assembly of paragraph C0, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal in which the secondfrequency bandwidth is within the upper half of the first frequencybandwidth.

D0. In some examples, a receiver assembly comprising a signal receiverfor receiving from a communication media a composite signal havingfrequencies within a sonic first frequency bandwidth, the compositesignal including an audio base signal and a code signal, the code signalbeing encoded with a code, having a duration shorter than a duration ofthe base signal, and having a second frequency bandwidth within thefirst frequency bandwidth; a speaker operatively coupled to the signalreceiver for outputting the composite signal, including the audio basesignal and the code signal, as sound; and a signal processing deviceconfigured to: detect the output sound corresponding to the code signal,determine the code from the detected output sound corresponding to thecode signal, automatically in response to determining the code and priorto displaying information in response to determining the code, determinewhether code-associated data associated with the code is stored on aninternal data storage device of the signal processing device, and if itis determined that the code-associated data is stored on the internaldata storage device, retrieve from the internal data storage device, thecode-associated data, and if it is determined that the code-associateddata is not stored on the internal data storage device, retrieve thecode-associated data from a data-base server that is remote from thesignal processing device and has an associated data storage devicestoring in a code data base a plurality of different codes andrespective code-associated data for each of the plurality of differentcodes; automatically in response to determining the code, send to thedata-base server signal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number; display the retrievedcode-associated data; receive a user input that is input using thedisplayed code-associated data; and automatically in response toreceiving the user input, send to the data-base server thesignal-processing-device-specific data also including datarepresentative of the specific user action taken.

D1. The receiver assembly of paragraph D0, wherein the signal processingdevice is configured to retrieve code-associated data including at leastone of a file item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user, alink to an Internet web site, a command for the computing device, or oneor more actions to be performed by the signal processing device.

D2. The receiver assembly of paragraph D0, wherein the signal processingdevice is configured to retrieve code-associated data including aplurality of data items for selection by a user, display the pluralityof data items, and receive an input from a user selecting at least oneof the plurality of displayed data items.

D3. The receiver assembly of paragraph D0, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal having a pluralityof code signals, and the signal processing device is further configuredto detect the output sound corresponding to the plurality of codesignals, and determine the code corresponding to a selected one of thecode signals.

D4. The receiver assembly of paragraph D3, wherein the signal receiveris further configured to receive a composite signal in which at leasttwo of the plurality of code signals have the same code and differentfrequency spectra.

E0. A computer program product, comprising at least one computerreadable storage medium having computer readable program instructionsembodied therewith, the computer readable program instructions, whenexecuted by a processor, configuring the processor to receive sound froma speaker outputting a composite signal including an audio base signaland a code signal, as sound, the composite signal having frequencieswithin a sonic first frequency bandwidth, and the code signal beingencoded with a code, having a duration shorter than a duration of thebase signal, and having a second frequency bandwidth within the firstfrequency bandwidth; detect the output sound corresponding to the codesignal; determine the code from the detected output sound correspondingto the code signal; retrieve from a data storage device data associatedwith the code; and display the retrieved data.

E1. The computer program product of paragraph E0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to retrieve content including at least one of afile item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user, a link to anInternet web site, a command for the computing device, one or moreactions to be performed by the computing device, or a combination of oneor more of each of two or more of these types of content.

E2. The computer program product of paragraph E0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to retrieve a plurality of data items forselection by a user, and display the plurality of data items, andreceive on the signal processing device an input from a user selectingat least one of the plurality of displayed data items.

E3. The computer program product of paragraph E3, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to send to a remote server associated with thecode signal an indication as to the at least one of the plurality ofdata items selected by the user.

E4. The computer program product of paragraph E2, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to, in response to receiving an input from auser selecting at least one of the plurality of displayed data items,send to a remote server associated with the code signal informationabout the signal processing device at the time of the selection orinformation related to the selection.

E5. The computer program product of paragraph E4, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to send one or more items of informationselected in any combination from the group of an identification of thesignal processing device, an ambient condition of the signal processingdevice that is detected by the signal processing device, a date of theselection, and a time of the selection.

E6. The computer program product of paragraph E0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from a speaker outputting acomposite signal having a plurality of code signals, detect the outputsound corresponding to the plurality of code signals, and determine thecode corresponding to a selected one of the code signals.

E7. The computer program product of paragraph E6, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from the speaker outputting acomposite signal in which each of the plurality of code signals have adifferent frequency spectrum, and determine the code corresponding tothe code signal having a predetermined frequency spectrum.

E8. The computer program product of paragraph E7, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from the speaker outputting acomposite signal in which each of the plurality of code signals has anassociated second frequency bandwidth that is within the upper half ofthe first frequency bandwidth.

E9. The computer program product of paragraph E0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from the speaker outputting acomposite signal in which the second frequency bandwidth is within theupper half of the first frequency bandwidth.

F0. A computer program product, comprising at least one non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having computer readable programinstructions embodied therewith, the computer readable programinstructions, when executed by a processor, configuring the processorto: receive sound from a speaker outputting a composite signal includingan audio base signal and a code signal, as sound, the composite signalhaving frequencies within a sonic first frequency bandwidth, and thecode signal being encoded with a code, having a duration shorter than aduration of the base signal, and having a second frequency bandwidthwithin the first frequency bandwidth; detect the output soundcorresponding to the code signal; determine the code from the detectedoutput sound corresponding to the code signal; automatically in responseto determining the code and prior to displaying information in responseto determining the code, determine whether code-associated dataassociated with the code is stored on an internal data storage device ofthe signal processing device, and if it is determined that thecode-associated data is stored on the internal data storage device,retrieve from the internal data storage device, the code-associateddata, and if it is determined that the code-associated data is notstored on the internal data storage device, retrieve the code-associateddata from a data-base server that is remote from the signal processingdevice and has an associated data storage device storing in a code database a plurality of different codes and respective code-associated datafor each of the plurality of different codes; automatically in responseto determining the code, send to the data-base serversignal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number; display the retrievedcode-associated data; receive a user input that is input using thedisplayed code-associated data; and automatically in response toreceiving the user input, send to the data-base server thesignal-processing-device-specific data also including datarepresentative of the specific user action taken.

F1. The computer program product of paragraph F0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, configurethe processor to retrieve code-associated data including at least one ofa file item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user, a link to anInternet web site, a command for the computing device, or one or moreactions to be performed by the computing device.

F2. The computer program product of paragraph F0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, configurethe processor to retrieve code-associated data including a plurality ofdata items for selection by a user, display the plurality of data items,and receive on the signal processing device an input from a userselecting at least one of the plurality of displayed data items.

F3. The computer program product of paragraph F0, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from a speaker outputting acomposite signal having a plurality of code signals, detect the outputsound corresponding to the plurality of code signals, and determine thecode corresponding to a selected one of the code signals.

F4. The computer program product of paragraph F3, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherconfigure the processor to receive sound from the speaker outputting acomposite signal in which at least two code signals of the plurality ofcode signals have the same code and different frequency spectra, anddetermine the code corresponding to the code signal having apredetermined one of the frequency spectra of the at least two codesignals.

The disclosure set forth above may describe multiple distinct inventionswith independent utility. Although each of these inventions has beendisclosed in its preferred form(s), the specific embodiments thereof asdisclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limitingsense, because numerous variations are possible. To the extent thatsection headings are used within this disclosure, such headings are fororganizational purposes only, and do not constitute a characterizationof any claimed invention. The subject matter of the invention(s)includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations ofthe various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosedherein. The following claims particularly point out certain combinationsand subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. Invention(s)embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features,functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed in applicationsclaiming priority from this or a related application. Such claims,whether directed to a different invention or to the same invention, andwhether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the originalclaims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of theinvention(s) of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving on a signalprocessing device a code and code-associated data associated with thecode from a data-base server that is remote from the signal processingdevice; storing on an internal data storage device of the signalprocessing device the received code and the code-associated data; afterstoring on the internal data storage device the received code andcode-associated data, receiving from a communication media on a signalreceiver a composite signal having frequencies within a sonic firstfrequency bandwidth, the composite signal including an audio base signaland at least one code signal, the code signal being encoded with thecode, having a duration shorter than a duration of the base signal, andhaving a second frequency bandwidth within the first frequencybandwidth; outputting the composite signal on a speaker, the speakerconverting the composite signal into sound; while outputting thecomposite signal, detecting by the signal processing device the outputsound corresponding to the code signal; determining the code from thedetected output sound corresponding to the code signal; automatically inresponse to determining the code and prior to displaying information inresponse to determining the code, determining whether code-associateddata associated with the code is stored on the internal data storagedevice of the signal processing device, and if it is determined that thecode-associated data is stored on the internal data storage device,retrieving from the internal data storage device the code-associateddata; and displaying on a display device of the signal processing devicethe retrieved code-associated data.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving and storing the code-associated data includes receiving andstoring at least one of a file item, file metadata, text to be displayedto a user, a link to an Internet web site, a command for the computingdevice, or one or more actions to be performed by the signal processingdevice.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the code-associateddata includes retrieving a plurality of data items for selection by auser, and displaying the retrieved code-associated data includesdisplaying the plurality of data items, and the method further includingreceiving a user input selecting at least one of the plurality ofdisplayed data items.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving acomposite signal includes receiving a composite signal having aplurality of code signals, detecting the output sound corresponding tothe code signal includes detecting the output sound corresponding to theplurality of code signals, and determining the code corresponding to thecode signal includes determining the code corresponding to a selectedone of the code signals.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving acomposite signal having the plurality of code signals includes receivinga composite signal having at least two code signals having the same codeand different frequency spectra.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising automatically in response to determining the code, sending tothe data-base server signal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: receiving on the signal processing device a user input thatis input using the displayed code-associated data; and automatically inresponse to receiving the user input, sending to the data-base serverthe signal-processing-device-specific data also including datarepresentative of the specific user action taken.
 8. A receiver assemblycomprising: a signal receiver for receiving from a communication media acomposite signal having frequencies within a sonic first frequencybandwidth, the composite signal including an audio base signal and acode signal, the code signal being encoded with a code, having aduration shorter than a duration of the base signal, and having a secondfrequency bandwidth within the first frequency bandwidth; a speakeroperatively coupled to the signal receiver for outputting the compositesignal, including the audio base signal and the code signal, as sound;and a signal processing device configured to: receive on a signalprocessing device a code and code-associated data associated with thecode from a data-base server that is remote from the signal processingdevice; store on an internal data storage device of the signalprocessing device the received code and the code-associated data; detectthe output sound corresponding to the code signal; determine the codefrom the detected output sound corresponding to the code signal;automatically in response to determining the code and prior todisplaying information in response to determining the code, determinewhether code-associated data associated with the code is stored on theinternal data storage device of the signal processing device, and if itis determined that the code-associated data is stored on the internaldata storage device, retrieve the code-associated data from the internaldata storage device; and display the retrieved code-associated data. 9.The receiver assembly of claim 8, wherein the signal processing deviceis configured to receive and store the code-associated data including atleast one of a file item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user,a link to an Internet web site, a command for the computing device, orone or more actions to be performed by the signal processing device. 10.The receiver assembly of claim 8, wherein the signal processing deviceis configured to retrieve code-associated data including a plurality ofdata items for selection by a user, display the plurality of data items,and receive an input from a user selecting at least one of the pluralityof displayed data items.
 11. The receiver assembly of claim 8, whereinthe signal receiver is further configured to receive a composite signalhaving a plurality of code signals, and the signal processing device isfurther configured to detect the output sound corresponding to theplurality of code signals, and determine the code corresponding to aselected one of the code signals.
 12. The receiver assembly of claim 11,wherein the signal receiver is further configured to receive a compositesignal in which at least two of the plurality of code signals have thesame code and different frequency spectra.
 13. The receiver assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the signal receiver is further configured toautomatically in response to determining the code, send to the data-baseserver signal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number.
 14. The receiver assembly ofclaim 13, wherein the signal receiver is further configured to: receivea user input that is input using the displayed code-associated data; andautomatically in response to receiving the user input, send to thedata-base server the signal-processing-device-specific data alsoincluding data representative of the specific user action taken.
 15. Acomputer program product, comprising: at least one non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having computer readable programinstructions embodied therewith, the computer readable programinstructions, when executed by a processor of a signal processingdevice, configuring the processor to: receive a code and code-associateddata associated with the code from a data-base server that is remotefrom the signal processing device; store on an internal data storagedevice of the signal processing device the received code and thecode-associated data; receive sound from a speaker outputting acomposite signal including an audio base signal and a code signal, assound, the composite signal having frequencies within a sonic firstfrequency bandwidth, and the code signal being encoded with a code,having a duration shorter than a duration of the base signal, and havinga second frequency bandwidth within the first frequency bandwidth;detect the output sound corresponding to the code signal; determine thecode from the detected output sound corresponding to the code signal;automatically in response to determining the code and prior todisplaying information in response to determining the code, determinewhether code-associated data associated with the code is stored on aninternal data storage device of the signal processing device, and if itis determined that the code-associated data is stored on the internaldata storage device, retrieve from the internal data storage device, thecode-associated data; and display the retrieved code-associated data.16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computerreadable program instructions, when executed by the processor, configurethe processor to receive and store the code-associated data including atleast one of a file item, file metadata, text to be displayed to a user,a link to an Internet web site, a command for the computing device, orone or more actions to be performed by the computing device.
 17. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer readableprogram instructions, when executed by the processor, configure theprocessor to retrieve the code-associated data including a plurality ofdata items for selection by a user, display the plurality of data items,and receive on the signal processing device an input from a userselecting at least one of the plurality of displayed data items.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer readableprogram instructions, when executed by the processor, further configurethe processor to receive sound from a speaker outputting a compositesignal having a plurality of code signals, detect the output soundcorresponding to the plurality of code signals, and determine the codecorresponding to a selected one of the code signals.
 19. The computerprogram product of claim 15, wherein the computer readable programinstructions, when executed by the processor, further configure theprocessor to receive sound from the speaker outputting a compositesignal in which at least two code signals of the plurality of codesignals have the same code and different frequency spectra, anddetermine the code corresponding to the code signal having apredetermined one of the frequency spectra of the at least two codesignals.
 20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein thecomputer readable program instructions, when executed by the processor,further configure the processor to: automatically in response todetermining the code, send to the data-base serversignal-processing-device-specific data, thesignal-processing-device-specific data including data representative ofa device unique identification number; receive on the signal processingdevice a user input that is input using the displayed code-associateddata; and automatically in response to receiving the user input, send tothe data-base server the signal-processing-device-specific data alsoincluding data representative of the specific user action taken.